By Lena Arnold, Office of Institutional Advancement
Wilberforce University
New campus construction model from 1967 Wilberforce yearbook.
Imagine the Miami Valley region without Wilberforce University.
No students energizing the local economy.
No faculty fueling research and innovation.
No historic institution anchoring generations of Black excellence.
No Wilberforce would mean more than the loss of a university—it would mean a critical blow to education access, economic mobility, and regional stability.
“Wilberforce is not just about educating students,” said President Vann R. Newkirk Sr. “It’s about fueling an economy.”
That powerful truth highlights why alumni, corporate partners, and the community must rally to preserve and expand the legacy of Wilberforce University—a legacy under increasing financial pressure, despite its vital role in Ohio and beyond.
The Value of Wilberforce University: Beyond the Classroom
MLK speaking at 107th Wilberforce Commencement. At Wilberforce We ARE Black History!
Founded in 1856, Wilberforce University holds the distinction of being the nation’s first private HBCU owned and operated by African Americans. Its mission—to educate and uplift historically underserved populations—has remained constant. But its impact reaches far beyond the student body.
According to the most recent UNCF HBCU Economic Impact Report, HBCUs generate $15 billion in total economic impact each year and support over 134,000 jobs nationwide. Wilberforce contributes significantly to that figure in Ohio through:
- Local employment: As one of the area’s largest employers, Wilberforce supports hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, from faculty and staff to local vendors and contractors.
- Student spending: Students inject money into local businesses for housing, food, transportation, and entertainment.
- Graduates who stay and serve: Many alumni remain in the region, becoming educators, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and healthcare professionals.
Specifically Wilberforce provides an annual: $24.4 economic impact and 238 jobs to the region. The lifetime earnings of 2021 graduates is expected to be nearly 228 million. Without Wilberforce, these economic and social benefits would be dramatically diminished, leaving a void that would ripple far beyond the university gates. Learn more about the Wilberforce economic impact at Wilberforce University – UNCF
Amazing students like Maya Williams need your help. They are the force and future of Wilberforce.
The Financial Realities: Tuition Alone Doesn’t Cut It
Across the country, small private colleges are facing an existential crisis. In 2024 alone, at least 16 nonprofit institutions closed, most due to financial strain and declining enrollment, according to Inside Higher Ed. Wilberforce is not immune to these pressures.
Recent studies confirm what many higher ed leaders already know: tuition does not cover the full cost of operating a university. A study in JSTOR “The Impact of Tuition Increases on Enrollment” found that even substantial increases in tuition only marginally offset funding gaps, often leading to reduced enrollment as a consequence.
Financial statements from universities across the country reveal a dependence on diversified revenue streams, including:
- Philanthropic giving
- Endowment returns
- Federal and state grants
- Corporate and community partnerships
Wilberforce, with its modest endowment and high tuition dependence, needs increased alumni, community, and corporate investment to thrive.
The Risks of Doing Nothing
HBCUs, particularly small institutions like Wilberforce, are disproportionately impacted by chronic underfunding and resource disparities. A 2025 report from The Century Foundation found that Black land-grant institutions are underfunded by over $200 million compared to their predominantly white counterparts. This underinvestment has translated into:
- Deferred maintenance on campus buildings
- Limited access to modern technology
- Reduced academic program offerings
- Difficulty attracting and retaining top-tier faculty
Wilberforce has faced all of these challenges—yet it remains resilient. With each graduating class, it proves that mission-driven education is still worth fighting for. But resilience without resources is unsustainable.
How Wilberforce Is Fighting Back
Despite the odds, Wilberforce is making strategic moves to remain viable and innovative. The university is actively participating in national initiatives like:
- TMCF’s $25 Million HBCU Innovation and Growth Initiative, which provides resources for student success, technology upgrades, and faculty development.
- The HBCU Endowment Fund, which supports long-term financial sustainability through investment in research and entrepreneurship.
- Increasing Alumni-driven giving campaigns, such as facilities, gap funding, and scholarship programs.
But none of this is enough without consistent external support. The Wilberforce administration is building the foundation—but it takes a village to raise a university.
Call to Action: What You Can Do
Alumni:
- Give back—regularly, not just during Homecoming or Dawn Dance.
- Mentor students to help them navigate academic and professional life.
- Advocate for Wilberforce with employers, donors, and public officials.
Community Leaders:
- Partner with Wilberforce on workforce development initiatives.
- Support internship pipelines for Wilberforce students in local industries.
- Encourage local hiring of Wilberforce graduates.
Corporate Partners:
- Invest in Wilberforce’s innovation—from labs to leadership development.
- Create named scholarships for in-demand fields like business, STEM, and healthcare.
- Fund infrastructure and digital transformation projects that will prepare students for the future.
Imagine a World Without Wilberforce
It’s a world with fewer Black college graduates.
A weaker local economy.
A lost chapter in the American story of perseverance, progress, and purpose.
We cannot allow that world to become reality!
Wilberforce has educated changemakers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries for nearly 170 years!
Now it needs our collective investment to continue doing so for another 170.
Let’s not wait until the campus goes quiet to realize what we’ve lost.
Let’s act now—because Wilberforce doesn’t just belong to the past. It belongs to the future—and that future starts with us.
Scan to give or visit Wilberforce.edu/donate.
Sources: UNCF HBCU Economic Impact Report 2025, Inside Higher Ed (2024–2025), JSTOR, The Century Foundation, TMCF, Our HBCUs Matter Foundation.
