Wright State University has recognized more than 50 outstanding individuals with honorary degrees since 1975. The degrees have typically been Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Science, or (since 1986) Doctor of Humane Letters. Recipients are those who have made outstanding contributions to Wright State or to humanity and who exemplifies the goals and philosophies of the university. This person does not need to be well-known—in fact, they may be known by relatively few. Trustees, faculty, staff, and alumni can be honored two years after their last direct association with the university. Nominations may be made by anyone associated with the university and are considered by the honorary degree committee, a subcommittee of the commencement committee. Nominations receiving favorable consideration by the committee will be recommended to the university president, who may subsequently recommend them to the Board of Trustees for further consideration and final approval.
| YEAR | NAME | DEGREE GIVEN |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Dr. Brage Golding | Dr. of Laws |
| 1975 | Mr. Frederick A. White | Dr. of Laws |
| 1975 | Dr. Lionel Newsom | Dr. of Laws |
| 1976 | Mr. John Jakes | Dr. of Laws |
| 1976 | Mr. Robert S. Oelman | Dr. of Laws |
| 1977 | Mrs. Virginia Kettering | Dr. of Laws |
| 1977 | Mr. David L. Rike | Dr. of Laws |
| 1979 | Father Ray Roesch | |
| 1979 | Mr. C. William Verity, Jr. | |
| 1979 | Dr. Clifton Wharton, Jr. | |
| 1980 | Mr. Harry P. Jeffrey | |
| 1980 | Mrs. Thelma Fordham Pruett | |
| 1981 | Mrs. lvonette Wright Miller | Dr. of Laws |
| 1981 | Mr. Horace Wright | Dr. of Laws |
| 1982 | Mr. James McSwiney | Dr. of Laws |
| 1982 | Gov. James Rhodes | Dr. of Laws |
| 1982 | Mrs. Clara Weisenborn | Dr. of Laws |
| 1982 | Mr. Albert H. Sealy | |
| 1983 | Ms. Josephine Schwarz | Dr. of Laws |
| 1984 | Gen. Pres. Tsutomu Kake | Dr. of Human Letters |
| 1984 | Richard DeWall, M.C. | Dr. of Science |
| 1984 | Dr. Paul Katz | |
| 1984 | Ms. Helen Hooven Santmyer | |
| 1985 | Commodore Grace M. Hopper | Dr. of Science |
| 1985 | C. Chester Bussey | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1986 | Gov. Richard Celeste | Dr. of Laws |
| 1986 | C.J. Mclin, Jr. | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1989 | William B. Coulter | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1995 | Virginia Hamilton | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1996 | Suzanne Murray Bassani | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1997 | Jeraldyne Blunden | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1997 | Steve Mason | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1998 | Dr. Allan Eckert | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 1999 | G. Wilkinson Wright | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2000 | Hon. Walter H. Rice | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2001 | Dr. Tom Crouch | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2002 | Dr. Fritz J. | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2002 | Delores Russ | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2004 | Dr. David Satcher | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2004 | Dr. Paul C. Lauterbur | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2005 | Raj Soin | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2005 | Warren Christopher | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2006 | Tony Hall | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2007 | Dr. David Albright | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2008 | Merle Grace Kearns | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2009 | Dr. David Ponitz | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2009 | Renate Frydman | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2010 | Dr. Herbert Woodward Martin | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2011 | Doreen Mogavero | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2012 | Neal Gittleman | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2013 | General Janet C. Wolfenbarger | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2014 | Deborah A. Feldman | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2015 | John L. Janning | Dr. of Humane Letters |
| 2015 | Sharon Honaker Rab | Dr. of Humane Letters |
