Edward Waters University
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1866
- HeadquartersJacksonville, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Edward Waters University does
Edward Waters University is a private, non-profit Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Jacksonville, Florida, founded in 1866 by members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It is the state's first independent institution of higher learning and its first institution established for the education of African Americans. The university operates a single Jacksonville campus (1658 Kings Road) with an additional mailing site, serving approximately 1,200+ undergraduate and graduate students across 16 academic degree programs — a catalog that has doubled from 8 programs since 2018 under President Dr. A. Zachary Faison Jr.
The academic portfolio spans undergraduate degrees in accounting, biology, business administration, criminal justice, communications, computer and information science, forensic science, general studies, psychology, public health, social work, and sports management, plus graduate degrees in cybersecurity, business administration, education policy and advocacy, and public administration. Delivery is split between on-campus instruction and a distance-learning platform (eCampus). Supporting technology infrastructure is standard third-party: Google Analytics and Google Maps APIs for web/marketing, and Touchnet for tuition and fee payment processing. There is no proprietary technology platform. Auxiliary services include an on-campus library, a student portal (portal.ew.edu), NCAA Division II athletics via the SIAC conference, the EWU Innovation Learner Lounge (funded by a Home Depot Retool Your School grant), residence life and housing, financial aid administration, and career planning.
The business model is a multi-stream tuition-and-grant model typical of private non-profit higher education. Revenue is generated from (1) student tuition and mandatory fees (the primary stream), (2) federal grants including Title III, Title V Hispanic-Serving Institutions grants, and Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, (3) AME Church contributions as a founding partner, (4) UNCF institutional membership support, and (5) private gifts and philanthropy administered through the Office of Institutional Advancement. GTM is dual-motion: a sales-led enrollment-management function targeting prospective students and families through campus visits, admissions events, and matriculant services, layered with a direct-to-consumer motion via the public application, FAFSA filing, parent portal, and new student orientation. Marketing channels include the ew.edu website, news and earned media, campus events, the parent portal, the Alumni Leadership Council, and podcast/multimedia appearances. The institution does not receive direct tax support, though it has received historic state appropriations via Florida's 'Focus on Florida's Future' budget.
Edward Waters University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Edward Waters University
- Legal name
- Edward Waters University
- Website
- https://ew.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1866
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Edward Waters University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Nonprofit HBCUs (EDAHAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faith-Based & Religious-Affiliated HBCUs (EDAHAMAG), Teaching-Focused & Liberal Arts HBCUs (EDAHAMAF)
Keywords
Where Edward Waters University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jacksonville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Edward Waters University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from student tuition and fee payments. Students are responsible for tuition and fees at registration. Private nonprofit institution without direct tax support.
- Government Grants: Federal, state, and local grant funding including Title III, Title V Hispanic-Serving Institutions grants, and Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds.
- African Methodist Episcopal Church Contributions: Support from AME Church affiliation as a founding partner.
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Support: Member of UNCF receiving institutional support and access to resources.
- Private Gifts and Philanthropy: Donor contributions and fundraising through the Office of Institutional Advancement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time | Non-refundable Enrollment Fee: $150 |
| Subscription | One time | Housing Reservation Fee: $100 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Payment Plans Available |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Edward Waters University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Edward Waters University is a private, non-profit HBCU that delivers higher education through 16 academic degree programs spanning undergraduate disciplines (Accounting, Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Communications, CIS, Forensic Science, General Studies, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, and Sports Management) and graduate programs (Cybersecurity MS, MBA, Education Policy & Advocacy MEPA, and Public Administration MPA). Programs are delivered through on-campus instruction at the Jacksonville, Florida campus and via the eCampus distance learning platform, supported by student services including financial aid, career planning, residence life, and NCAA Division II athletics.
Product overview
Edward Waters University offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services centered on its undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The institution provides traditional four-year degrees across disciplines including Business, Sciences, Social Sciences, and Health, complemented by graduate programs in Cybersecurity, Business Administration, Education Policy, and Public Administration. The university supports its academic offerings through distance learning platforms, library services, a student portal for registration and academic management, and specialized facilities such as the Innovation Learner Lounge. Additional services include financial aid administration, career planning, alumni engagement via the Alumni Leadership Council, and NCAA Division II athletics. The product architecture operates as a unified higher education institution with academic programs as the core offering, supplemented by student services, technology infrastructure, and community engagement functions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Programs Four-year undergraduate degree programs across 12 disciplines for traditional and non-traditional students seeking an HBCU education.
- Graduate Programs Graduate degree programs including Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education Policy & Advocacy (MEPA), and Master of Public Administration (MPA).
- Distance Learning / eCampus Online and hybrid learning platform accessed via ecampus.ew.edu that provides flexible educational access for students unable to attend traditional on-campus classes, supporting both undergraduate and graduate remote learners.
- Athletics Programs Intercollegiate athletic programs competing in NCAA Division II within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), operated through ewutigerpride.com, providing athletic scholarships, competitive play, facilities, and recruiting pathways for student athletes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Enrollment surpassed 1,200 students for first time in over two decades (fall 2025)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Edward Waters University
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Edward Waters University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Edward Waters University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Apple Inc.coreiPad initiative providing all incoming first-time freshmen with complimentary 11-inch Apple iPads and four-year AppleCare+ subscription to bridge digital divide.
- SIAC Conference / NCAA Division IIcoreMembership in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and transition to NCAA Division II for intercollegiate athletics.
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF)coreMember of UNCF, receiving institutional support, access to resources, and fellowship opportunities for students and faculty.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)coreAccrediting body that granted full 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation with zero recommendations in December 2025, extending accreditation through 2035.
- University of FloridacoreAccelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing partnership program allowing Edward Waters students to continue studies at University of Florida. Kala Anderson and Kelly Gurrick were among first EWU students selected.
- Pareto ClinicminorHealthcare partnership on campus celebrating four years of impact and community partnership with Edward Waters University.
- NLP LogixminorAI workforce partnership bridging the AI skills gap and shaping tomorrow's workforce through collaboration with EWU students.
- Morgan State UniversityminorResearch partnership providing research opportunities for EWU students including Peace Amhanesi in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Poly API CorporationminorSoftware engineering experience partnership providing professional experience opportunities for EWU students.
- PROPEL Health AcceleratorminorHealth accelerator program providing additional research and professional development opportunities for EWU students.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Edward Waters University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Philander Smith University: Small private HBCU in Little Rock, Arkansas, affiliated with the United Methodist Church and UNCF, with similar enrollment scale and liberal arts focus.
- Florida Memorial University: Small private HBCU in Florida affiliated with the Baptist church, comparable in enrollment size, mission, and dependence on tuition and grants.
- Lane College: Small private HBCU in Jackson, Tennessee, affiliated with the CME Church and UNCF; comparable enrollment size, faith affiliation, and tuition-dependent operating model.
- Paine College: Small private HBCU in Augusta, Georgia, jointly affiliated with CME and Methodist churches and a UNCF member; very comparable enrollment scale and operating model.
- LeMoyne-Owen College: Small private HBCU in Memphis, Tennessee, United Negro College Fund member; comparable in enrollment scale and urban single-campus operating structure.
- Bethune-Cookman University: Florida-based private HBCU with a similar enrollment scale and faith-affiliated heritage, competing for the same regional student pool and offering comparable undergraduate/graduate programs.
- Dillard University: Private, faith-affiliated HBCU of similar scale in New Orleans, United Negro College Fund member, comparable undergraduate liberal arts and professional program mix.
- Xavier University of Louisiana: Private Catholic HBCU in New Orleans with strong STEM and pre-health pipelines; comparable size, mission, and UNCF affiliation profile.
Broad incumbents
- Clark Atlanta University: Larger private HBCU in Atlanta formed from a consolidation; comparable graduate program breadth and Atlanta-based employer pipeline.
- Tuskegee University: Larger, established private HBCU in Alabama with a longer research and engineering heritage; Edward Waters' new COO Dr. Johnson was its former president, illustrating direct institutional adjacency.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Edward Waters University social profiles
Digital presenceEdward Waters University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Edward Waters University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Edward Waters University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Edward Waters University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Edward Waters University
What does Edward Waters University do?
Edward Waters University is a private, non-profit HBCU that delivers higher education through 16 academic degree programs spanning undergraduate disciplines (Accounting, Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Communications, CIS, Forensic Science, General Studies, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, and Sports Management) and graduate programs (Cybersecurity MS, MBA, Education Policy & Advocacy MEPA, and Public Administration MPA). Programs are delivered through on-campus instruction at the Jacksonville, Florida campus and via the eCampus distance learning platform, supported by student services including financial aid, career planning, residence life, and NCAA Division II athletics.
Is Edward Waters University a public or private company?
Edward Waters University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Edward Waters University founded?
Edward Waters University was founded in 1866. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Edward Waters University based?
Edward Waters University is headquartered in Jacksonville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Edward Waters University make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are government Grants, african Methodist Episcopal Church Contributions, united Negro College Fund (UNCF) Support and private Gifts and Philanthropy.
Who are Edward Waters University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Philander Smith University, Florida Memorial University, Lane College, Paine College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Bethune-Cookman University, Dillard University and Xavier University of Louisiana. Broad incumbents are Clark Atlanta University and Tuskegee University.
Does Edward Waters University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Edward Waters University.
What industry is Edward Waters University in?
Edward Waters University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAMAB, Private Nonprofit HBCUs, with a secondary code of EDAHAMAG, Faith-Based & Religious-Affiliated HBCUs. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.