Founded in 1866, Edward Waters University is Florida’s first independent higher learning institution as well as its first HBCU, providing students with a four-year liberal arts program rooted in ethical Christian values and civic engagement, all working toward a fundamental ideal of “Emerging Eminence.†There are five bachelor’s degree programs on offer—Biology, Business Administration, Communications, Criminal Justice, and Psychology—and students are encouraged to view their education and their future leadership roles through a global lens.
To create lifelong critical thinkers and learners, the university devotes numerous resources and scholastic services to support a student’s journey. The Charles H. Pearce Institute is a five-week academic enrichment program for students who feel they need additional study before entering the college as a first-year, and The Writing Center provides personalized workshops and one-on-one instruction. The Center of Undergraduate Research promotes student research and collaboration with faculty, and the school established an honors college in 2019 to provide talented students with enhanced academic and experiential learning opportunities. The school also partakes in TRIO programs, a set of federally funded programs that aim to help first-generation, low-income students overcome barriers so that they may succeed in higher education.
