Edward Waters University enrolled its largest class of freshmen and transfers in the institution’s history with 531 new students, a 27% increase over fall 2020 and a 50% increase compared with fall 2019.
Overall enrollment at EWU increased 14% at the close of fall registration Aug. 27, totaling 1,104 students, the highest overall enrollment at the institution in close to 20 years, a EWU news release said.
“This tremendous development for our university is further evidence of our continuing advancement and forward movement as a ‘destination institution’ of choice amongst parents and prospective students who are increasingly selecting Edward Waters for their higher educational future,” A. Zachary Faison Jr., president and CEO, said in the release.
“We’re equally ecstatic that this year’s enrollment outcome is also indicative of substantial progress being made towards enhancing the retention of our Tiger students as this latest overall enrollment effort indicates that we were successful in retaining nearly 80% of our students from spring 2021 to fall 2021.”
The university received nearly 7,000 applications for the 2021-22 academic year, a 17% increase in total applications over fall 2020.
In addition, the grade point average for EWU’s incoming class is 3.05, up from 2.86 of last year.
Edward Waters University, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and a member of the United Negro College Fund, is a private, historically black, urban institution of higher education offering a liberal arts education.
EWU was established in 1866 and is an African Methodist Episcopal Church-related institution. It was the first private and independent institution of higher education established in Florida.
