Never-ending opportunity for international students at Wright State University
Promoted by Wright State University

Never-ending opportunity for international students at Wright State University

If there’s one thing Wright State University can guarantee, it’s success upon graduation. No matter your origins, your goals, your intended field of study, they’ll guide you to the right path.

“Wright State University provided me with a supportive environment that made my transition to the U.S. seamless,” says Mani Chintakunta, a student and peer mentor from India pursuing the M.S. in computer science. “The diverse community and dedicated faculty helped me grow, both academically and personally … My time here has been filled with invaluable experiences that have prepared me for success in a global career.”

Wright State is a public university in the larger-than-average college town of Dayton, Ohio. It offers 160 graduate programs and 155 graduate degree programs to carve a path toward your career. This includes degrees in the College of Liberal Arts, STEM business programs in the Raj Soin College of Business like management info systems and supply chain management. There’s the College of Health, Education, and Human Services and the College of Science and Mathematics for fields like neuroscience and biochemistry and molecular biology.

International students at Wright State University in the 2024 Fall Semester represented more than 70 countries.

The school is home to over 11,000 students, but it’s got small-sized classes to ensure specialized attention towards the students. And part of that population is a rich international student community that makes up 13.7% of the school with students from 72 different countries.

In 2024, Wright State was ranked in the top 8% of universities worldwide for best value for international students by Study Abroad Aide — meaning they offer quality high education at an affordable price. It’s also because the school cares about their international students, and helps them secure successful outcomes and thrive in fulfilling journeys.

“I’ve found the balance between academics and campus life to be enriching and supportive,” says Divyeshkumar Ambaliya , a current student employee from India pursuing a B.S. in computer science. “Beyond the classroom, campus life is vibrant, with numerous clubs, organizations, and events that allow students to connect, collaborate, and unwind.”

One such opportunity beyond the classroom is a five-day, non-partisan leadership academy for students interested in politics, and those who desire a platform to discuss women’s underrepresentation in the field. Two students from Wright State — Marwah Almuzoughi and Amana Koeller — had participated in the program, alongside students from 12 Ohio colleges and universities. Almuzoughi had also taken part in Wright State’s award-winning Model United Nations program several times.

Wright State further supports international students through the Annual Spring Career & Internship fair. It’s open to both local and international students and attended by about 70 employers. Students meet with employers to find internships or full-time jobs, or complete degree-required opportunities. It ranges from corporate, non-profits, and government organizations.

To secure a full-time job after you graduate, it often starts with internships. That’s why job fairs like the one above can make all the difference–they help you connect with local businesses to build your skill set as you learn on the job and help you adapt to the work culture in the U.S. From there, many international students get hired by those companies full-time after the internships end. 

That’s the case for Showri Chitti, who graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s in computer science. He did an internship with Veera Engineering, a startup based in Dayton, developed a system to integrate Reach — a company with a whole host of metaverse spaces — and was then hired to jump into both the company and the metaverse with a full-time job. 

The University Center for International Education does the most tedious part of helping you prepare the immigration documents to work as an international student; they process the paperwork to ensure students are eligible for internships or post-graduation work for up to three years depending on their field of study. They’re all about making the process easier for both the student and the employer, so that international students can seize these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities quickly.

That’s just one facet of why this year too, Wright State ranks in the top 6.4% of universities worldwide in the 2024 outcome-based Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings. They’ve got five career consultants through the colleges to help students not only find jobs, but prepare for the application and interviewing process. 

And you don’t have to move far beyond the local sphere in Ohio to flourish in your career.

Dayton, Ohio is a blooming hub for young professionals, offering many job opportunities to students. Not to mention, Columbus, the state capital, is just over an hour drive away. The region is surrounded by hundreds of manufacturing companies to build your network with, including with a new Intel factory set to open. In Forbes Advisor’s “Best places for young professionals to live” ranking, the city ranked fourth, ahead of bigger and more popular cities such as Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. The ranking looked into 12 metrics across four categories: housing, employment and pay, cost of living, and lifestyle.

Approximately 14 percent of Wright State University’s 11,822 students in Fall Semester 2024 were international students.

But of course, settling into foreign land takes more than just good career networks—and Wright State knows this well. They’ve got plenty of resources; scholarships you can apply for, Raid-Our-Closet which is a donation-based clothing closet for professional attire that’s open to all students, and many more. 

The biggest resource for international students however, are the peer mentors. They will contact you personally, and assist you through each step to arriving and settling in the U.S.. While it’s always been available to undergraduate students, the school has a new cohort of graduate ambassadors to help the students through academics and community.

“Being a mother, a wife, and an individual, I definitely have a lot on my plate, but Wright State has made embarking on this journey very fulfilling,” says Hillary Andoh, a peer mentor pursuing an M.B.A in management, innovation and change. “The class schedules, assignment submission tests, and everything else just seamlessly fit into any lifestyle … Once you are on the ‘Wright Way,’ things will just fall into place no matter how it may look from the outside.”

So what are you waiting for? Check out Wright State University today.