Exploring Johnson And Wales University's Student Population

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with campuses in Providence, Rhode Island, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1914 as a business school, JWU has since expanded to offer over 200 programs across various fields, including arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, and nutrition. As of 2023, the university had a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,952 students, with a total of 12,930 graduate, undergraduate, and online students across all its campuses. The Providence campus, which is the largest of JWU's campuses, had over 4,300 students as of 2024.

Johnson and Wales University's undergraduate enrollment

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with its main campus in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded as a business school in 1914 and has since expanded to include a variety of undergraduate programs.

As of fall 2023, JWU's Providence campus has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,952 students. This makes it the largest of JWU's campuses in terms of enrollment, land, and facilities. The Providence campus is actually composed of two separate campuses: Downcity and Harborside, which together comprise more than 170 acres and 52 buildings.

In recent years, JWU's total enrollment across all campuses has fluctuated. In 2020, the university enrolled 7,357 students across its campuses. By 2025, this number had increased to 12,930 graduate, undergraduate, and online students across its locations. This includes 726 international students from 78 different nations.

JWU offers a variety of undergraduate programs, including business, education, design, engineering, culinary arts, and arts and sciences. The university is particularly well-known for its culinary arts program and is the largest food service educator in the world.

In addition to its Providence campus, JWU has campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina, and previously had campuses in Denver, Colorado, and North Miami, Florida, which closed after the 2020-21 school year.

The university's graduate and online student numbers

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. The Providence Campus is the largest of the university's campuses in land, facilities, and enrollment. It is made up of two campuses: Downcity and Harborside, which together span more than 170 acres and include 52 buildings.

As of 2023, JWU's Providence campus had a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,952 students. The university as a whole had 7,357 students across its campuses in the fall of 2020. By 2016, this number had grown to 16,000 students across four campuses. The most recent data shows that JWU currently has 12,930 graduate, undergraduate, and online students.

JWU's online programs include 11 bachelor's degrees and nine master's degree programs. The Providence campus also offers graduate programs through the Alan Shawn Feinstein Graduate School and the School of Education. The former is housed on the Harborside Campus, which features the Cuisinart Center for Culinary Excellence, a state-of-the-art culinary lab facility.

International students at Johnson and Wales University

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with campuses in Providence, Rhode Island, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The university has a diverse student body, including international students from 78 different nations.

History

JWU was founded in 1914 by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales as a business school. The school started with one student and one typewriter on Hope Street in Providence. Over the years, the school expanded, becoming a junior college in 1960 and gaining university status in 1988.

Campuses

The Providence Campus is the largest of JWU's campuses in terms of land, facilities, and enrollment. It is composed of two separate campuses: Downcity and Harborside, each offering unique experiences. Together, they span more than 170 acres and include residence halls, classrooms, labs, dining halls, libraries, offices, open spaces, and recreation facilities.

The Downcity Campus has played a role in the urban revitalisation of Providence. When JWU President John Yena assumed his role in 1989, he worked with renowned urban architect Andrés Duany to develop a vision for the campus that would contribute to the city's rejuvenation.

The Harborside Campus is located on approximately 100 acres of waterfront area, providing environmental and recreational benefits to the surrounding communities. Major facilities include the Alan Shawn Feinstein Graduate School, the Harborside Recreation Center, residence halls, and the Culinary Arts Museum, housing over 500,000 culinary artifacts.

Student Body

JWU currently has a total enrollment of around 12,930 graduate, undergraduate, and online students across its campuses, with around 3,952 undergraduate students at the Providence Campus as of Fall 2023. The university has about 726 international students, making up around 3% of the total student population.

Courses and Programs

JWU offers a wide range of programs across various fields, including business, education, design and engineering, culinary arts, and arts and sciences. The university provides over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs through its various colleges, including the College of Food Innovation and Technology, College of Hospitality, College of Health and Wellness, College of Engineering and Design, and John Hazen White College of Arts and Sciences.

Admissions

JWU has an acceptance rate of around 84%. International students applying to JWU need to meet specific admission requirements, including English language proficiency scores and submitting the necessary documents. The university does not charge an application fee for international students.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

JWU offers various scholarships for international students, including the International Presidential Scholarship, which is a full-tuition merit-based scholarship for students with exceptional academic achievements. The university also provides institutional scholarships and grants, with 97% of JWU on-ground students receiving financial support.

Student Life

JWU's Providence Campus is vibrant, with over 4,300 students living, working, and engaging in various activities. The university offers over 90 student-run clubs and organisations, social events, and 14 varsity sports teams competing at the NCAA III level. The campus is located in the city's bustling centre, providing easy access to Providence's culinary scene, arts and music offerings, professional sports, and 400 miles of coastline.

The acceptance rate at Johnson and Wales University

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with a main campus in Providence, Rhode Island, and another in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1914 as a business school, JWU has since expanded to offer over 200 programs in various fields, including arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, and health and wellness.

JWU's total undergraduate enrollment in the fall of 2023 was 3,952, with a campus size of 138 acres. The university shut down its Denver and North Miami campuses at the end of the 2020-21 school year, and by 2016, it had 16,000 students and more than 2,400 employees across four campuses.

The university offers a variety of scholarships, including the International Presidential Scholarship, JWU California Grant, and Life Scholarship. The application process is straightforward, and there is no application fee. JWU also offers direct admissions to qualified students, and the average cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, is $41,982.

Johnson and Wales University's tuition fees

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with campuses in Providence, Rhode Island; Charlotte, North Carolina; and previously in North Miami, Florida, and Denver, Colorado. The university offers a variety of programs, including business, education, design and engineering, culinary arts, and arts and sciences.

Regarding tuition fees, JWU's Providence campus has an undergraduate tuition of $41,982 for the 2024-2025 academic year. The total cost, including tuition, fees, food, housing, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses, is $61,848. However, the net price after aid and scholarship funds is $36,636 for the average student receiving need-based aid.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, JWU has estimated that undergraduate tuition will be $43,872 per academic year. There are also various additional fees, such as a new student fee of $459 (not charged to new international students), a student activity fee of $250, and specific program fees for uniform and toolkit, health insurance, and more. Room and meal plans vary by campus, with different options available to suit student preferences and budgets.

JWU offers financial aid and scholarships to its students, with 97% of on-ground students receiving institutional scholarships and/or grants. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students was $28,926, and 80% of first-year students received need-based financial aid. Additionally, there are merit-based scholarships, with an average award of $23,375 for first-year students.

The university also provides resources for students to explore loan options, personal savings, and part-time employment opportunities to help finance their education.

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