Edward Waters University now has the highest enrollment growth of all HBCUs in the state, per a report by News4Jax. Earlier this year, the university began reporting record growth in enrollment, new student admittance and student retention. Only one academic year ago, EWU had only 638 students attending; however, for the 2023-2024 school year, the smaller university had nearly 1,175 students enrolled.
The university’s president Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr. said in September, “In many circles Edward Waters is often mentioned largely for its historical significance, which is something for which we are unabashedly proud. We are equally proud, however, of our recent phenomenal enrollment growth that is representative of our contemporaneous relevance as a thriving institution that is rapidly becoming a ‘destination institution’ of choice amongst college-going students and their parents as a result of our high quality and expanding academic programs, dedicated university faculty and staff, and commitment towards providing a stellar student experience that is primarily focused upon ensuring our students’ personal, academic, and professional success.”
Since the initial reports from Fall 2023, the university has continued to grow rapidly and is now the fastest-growing HBCU in the Florida area.
The EWU community has expressed their excitement and gratitude for the university’s recent achievements. In a quote obtained by News4Jax, senior Tenaj Davis said that while Edward Waters University was not her first choice for undergraduate school it became her “home away from home”. She also attributes her growth as a young black woman to the education and encouragement she received during her time at the university.
In a statement shared by the university, they said, “Edward Waters University’s enrollment has skyrocketed by 30% since 2019, having welcomed its largest ever class of new students (540) in 2023 and achieving its highest enrollment in almost two decades at nearly 1200 students (1187) in fall 2022. EWU’s recent remarkable growth has made it the fastest growing college or university in Jacksonville, and the fastest growing historically black college or university (HBCU) in the State of Florida per published reports.”
Edward Waters is eagerly anticipating the upcoming academic year and is actively seeking to further enhance their athletic program as a full member of the SIAC.
The post Edward Waters boasts highest HBCU enrollment growth in Florida appeared first on ClutchPoints.
