Edward Waters University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Jacksonville, Florida. It enrolls 1,087 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes5
Value44
Affordability89
Selectivity33
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 85%, Edward Waters University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
85%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Edward Waters University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
23.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Edward Waters University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,649 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,649
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
75%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
68%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$16,366
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,571
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,818
Books & Supplies
$0
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,332
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,332
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,617
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,380
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,113
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,743
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,661
Over $110,000
$20,865
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$28,96875%percentile
$45,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,000
—
No Pell $8,500
—
Dependent students $10,082
—
Independent students $15,750
—
Female students $12,000
—
Male students $9,500
—
What this means:
Aid reaches the majority of students: 75% receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the actual cost to you is likely far below the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
14% of full-time students who enrolled at Edward Waters University graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
14%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Edward Waters University earn a median of $34,782 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,782
Earning > $25K
60%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$29,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$26,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$30,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$36,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
31.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 40% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Edward Waters University is home to 1,087 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,087
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 84.9%923
White 5.2%57
Hispanic 4.5%49
Other 1.0%11
Asian 0.5%5
International 0.1%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Edward Waters University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityJacksonville, Florida
Housing
Mostly residential596 beds on campus
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Edward Waters University offers
a focused set of programs:
8 distinct programs across
7 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Edward Waters University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$44M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,338
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
44 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
13
30%
$53,948
Associate Professors
9
20%
$57,490
Assistant Professors
14
32%
$55,355
Instructors
8
18%
$38,648
Pros & Cons of Edward Waters University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Edward Waters University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Edward Waters University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Edward Waters University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Edward Waters University.
Is Edward Waters University hard to get into?
Edward Waters University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 85%.
What is the acceptance rate at Edward Waters University?
Edward Waters University has an acceptance rate of 85%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Edward Waters University cost?
The average net price after aid at Edward Waters University is $13,649 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Edward Waters University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,782 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,649 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Edward Waters University known for?
Edward Waters University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Edward Waters University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Edward Waters University are $34,782, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Edward Waters University accredited?
Yes. Edward Waters University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Edward Waters University?
Edward Waters University enrolls 1,087 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Edward Waters University?
Edward Waters University graduates 14% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Edward Waters University a public or private college?
Edward Waters University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Edward Waters University located?
Edward Waters University is located in Jacksonville, Florida.
What programs does Edward Waters University offer?
Edward Waters University offers 8 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Edward Waters University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Edward Waters University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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