Wiley University sees highest enrollment since 2018: 1,000+ students

MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — Wiley University is reporting its highest enrollment numbers since 2018.

On August 26, the Wiley University Division of Enrollment Management announced a 29.2 percent increase in enrollment, including over 230 new students.

Fall 2025 enrollment has increased from 665 in 2021 to 1,014 for the Fall 2025 semester.

Vice President for Enrollment Management, Dr. Danielle Sims Brooks, said, “The University has been trending toward this moment since the COVID-19 pandemic. Each year we have seen increases in our enrollment, and this year we have succeeded in hitting our goal of 1,000+ students, taking us back to pre-COVID enrollments.”

The 205 sophomores make up the largest segment of the student body, while there are 182 first-time freshmen.

There are 149 graduate students, 106 of whom are new. There are also 47 freshmen and 45 sophomores enrolled as transfers or readmits.

Women make up 59 percent of the student body, while men make up 41 percent.

There are thirteen countries represented in the Wiley student body, including students from Japan, England, Italy, Chile, the Netherlands, Kenya, Anguilla, the Bahamas, Canada, Haiti, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Trinidad & Tobago.

The top states represented at Wiley are Texas, Louisiana, Florida, California, and Arkansas.

President and CEO Herman J. Felton said, “What is happening at Wiley University is not accidental. The institution has intentionally focused on increasing retention and completion rates while marching toward the 1,000-student benchmark.”

Wiley credits the growth to expanded opportunities for students, the lasting impact of the HBCU ecosystem, and the Marshall Community as reasons the school is outpacing national averages for small, private HBCUs.

President Felton said, “What we have done here is recognize the importance of HBCU culture and leveraged it in new ways to generate outstanding outcomes.”