On Tuesday, Fayetteville State University announced it has hit a new record with almost 20 percent more students than in 2018. This growth is part of a larger trend as more students across the country choose HBCUs for their education. Many are attracted by the affordable tuition and the unique culture these schools offer.
However, it’s worth noting from WARL, a local news, that six out of the ten HBCUs in North Carolina have experienced larger declines than the national average during the same period. While the total enrollment of North Carolina’s 10 HBCUs has only decreased by 4%, nationwide HBCU enrollment has dropped by 16% over the past decade. In comparison, all North Carolina universities have seen an 11% decrease in enrollment during the same period.
Freshman Drew Herring shared his excitement about being at FSU during an interview with ABC 11. “Being around people that look like me—I really appreciated that. I didn’t want to go somewhere where I felt that I was going to stand out. But—I feel like I stand out but am a part of the culture,” Herring said.
Tamia Hughes, also a freshman, talked about her choice to come to FSU from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “I’m traveling a long way to FSU and I really wanted to go to an HBCU–you know, in Wisconsin, we don’t have those there. And also, I was doing some research and I saw that FSU has one of the best nursing programs out of all the HBCUs so I was like, I need to go there,” Hughes said.
Nationwide, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that undergraduate enrollment at HBCUs increased by four percent over the past year. FSU now has more than 7,000 students, setting a new record for the third year in a row.
Dr. Pamela Baldwin, FSU’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Enrollment Management, credits this growth to effective outreach. “We have been marketing and recruiting in a way that explains to our prospects what we have to offer–whether it’s through degree programs, support through our students’ success opportunities, as well as opportunities for free summer school or free laptops,” Baldwin said.
FSU’s student numbers have grown by 12 percent, from 6,060 students in 2012 to 6,787 in 2022. Chancellor Darrell Allison highlighted the positive changes this growth has brought. “we’re starting to see the expansion and growth that we so desperately need to see here. With that, our research dollars–2021 when I got here, we were around $15 million in terms of research, sponsored research. I’m happy to say that we’re a little over three years–$33 million in sponsored research. So, we’re really seeing increases in those key areas–giving back to the university, expansion of the campus, along with our enrollment numbers.” Allison said.
FSU’s rise in student enrollment and research funding shows its growing impact and dedication to student success.