Explore HBCU – Edward Waters University

Staff Writer
January 21, 2022

Edward Waters College is a private, Christian, Historically Black College and University in Jacksonville, Florida.

Background

Edward Waters University was founded in 1866 by members of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and was originally named the Brown Theological Institute. Due to financial difficulties, the school shut down for most of the 1870s, but reopened in 1883 as East Florida Conference High School—all the while, the curriculum and the name continued to change and evolve, eventually being named for Bishop Edward Waters of the AME Church. 

Unfortunately, the original Edward Waters campus was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1901, but just three years later the college was able to obtain new land and begin work on a new campus. Edward Waters became accredited as a junior college in 1955 before putting into place a four-year curriculum five years later.

Starting in 1979, the school was fully-accredited as a four-year institution by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) and began awarding bachelor’s degrees.

Programs & Opportunities

Until recently, Edward Waters University was widely known as Edward Waters College—the name change occurred at the same time the regional accreditation agency approved the institution’s level change from a baccalaureate to master’s level degree granting entity. This change allowed EWU the opportunity to offer graduate programs for the first time in the school’s history. 

Now, in addition to the previously offered undergraduate curriculum offerings in communications, music, psychology, criminal justice, biology, education, math, or business administration—Edward Waters continues to grow its educational programs. 

Notable Alumni

Some of their notable alumni include, but are not limited to, the likes of Nathaniel Glover Jr., who graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in 1966 and went on to serve as the President of Edward Waters College from 2010 until 2018; Willye Dennis, the multi-hyphenate civil rights activist, Florida state legislator, and most famously librarian; and Alvin Brown, Jacksonville’s first African American mayor.

Financial Information

For both in-state and out-of-state students, the cost of tuition and expenses at Edward Waters is the same—ringing in at a total of $14,878 for total tuition. Approximately 99% of those attending Edward Waters receive financial aid—the average amount of federal, state, or local aid reportedly being $20,104, while the average amount of student loans is $6,925.

Conclusion

Edward Waters University is a historically black institution dedicated to serving and assisting students who are admitted and who will benefit from the college’s academic and social experiences.

With a distinguished higher education lineage spanning over 150 years, EWC is primed to continue its legacy as a premier urban, Christian, liberal arts, historically black institution–primed to advance its close-knit, holistically prepared student population. 

Learn more about the Emerging Eminence of Edward Waters University here.

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