Edward Waters University Sees Rising Enrollment Numbers
Edward Waters University (EWU), Florida’s first HBCU and a UNCF-member institution, is experiencing record-high enrollment for the first time in 20 years, according to a university press release.
This fall, more than 1,200 students are attending EWU—a historic milestone. Fall 2025 has the largest incoming class of new undergraduate students, 587, representing a 30% increase from Fall 2019.
“Our remarkable recent enrollment growth powerfully affirms our present-day vitality as a thriving and dynamic institution,” said EWU president and CEO Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr. in the press release. “The remarkable gains we have achieved are the direct result of the unwavering dedication, tireless work and strategic collaboration of our cross-institutional Strategic Enrollment and Retention Team. This was not the result of any single effort, but rather the collective determination of so many dedicated professionals working with a shared sense of mission and purpose to attract, enroll and support our students. Their collaborative efforts, innovative strategies and relentless focus on student success have brought us to this historic moment.”
EWU has enrolled more students in the past four academic years than any comparable four-year period since 2005.
The university’s graduate program is also seeing growing enrollment. EWU now has 133 graduate students, a 316% increase in total graduate enrollment since launching its inaugural graduate degree programs in 2021, according to the press release. The school’s master’s programs include cybersecurity, business administration, education policy and advocacy and public administration.
“This achievement is far more than just a number; it is a powerful affirmation of the faith and confidence that students and families place in Edward Waters,” continued Faison. “It reflects the transformative power of an EWU education, the vibrancy of our academic and co-curricular offerings and the bright and boundless future that lies ahead for our institution as we continue our upward trajectory.”