Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982

Florida’s oldest historically Black university, Edward Waters University, announced plans to construct its first on-campus dormitory in four decades. With $25 million in financing from the Rice Capital Access Program, the university will invest $33 million in capital improvements at its New Town campus. The city of Jacksonville will contribute $2 million to the project, which is expected to open in the Fall 2028 semester.

The new dormitory will provide additional beds for the growing HBCU population and serve as a community hub for Northwest Jacksonville residents. Edward Waters has experienced a 37% enrollment growth since 2019, and the university’s president and CEO, A. Zachary Faison, attributes this success to the university's ability to attract and retain students despite national challenges.