By Teri Saylor
A Campus Rapidly Changing
The Fayetteville State University campus was buzzing with excitement on homecoming weekend as the pep band practiced fight songs and visiting alumni navigated a familiar campus that is rapidly changing.
The last five years have brought new energy to the university, buoyed by the state’s NC Promise Tuition Plan and millions of dollars in appropriations from the North Carolina General Assembly, the U.S. Department of Defense, local grant funding, and donations.
The result is a record-setting increase in both freshman and transfer enrollment, higher graduation rates, and new facilities that are enhancing student life, improving educational opportunities, and lifting school spirit.
Record Enrollment, More Affordable Than Ever
“Today, our total enrollment is approaching 7,800 students,” said Pamela Baldwin, vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and student success. “Our goal is to have 8,000 students enrolled by fall 2027.”
This achievement comes as FSU has surpassed 80% in student retention for the first time in its history, up from 63% in 2021.
FSU recently joined three other universities in the NC Promise program. The UNC System and the North Carolina General Assembly launched it in 2018 to make higher education more affordable for students, bolster college degrees, and strengthen the state’s workforce.
In-state students pay $500 per semester for tuition in addition to campus fees, housing and meal plans.
Curious how NC Promise works for other UNC System schools? Learn more about the NC Promise Tuition Plan →
New Degrees for a Changing Workforce
FSU’s population increase has fueled substantial growth in academic programs, ushering in new bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields like cybersecurity, sports and fitness management, public health, supply chain management, and construction project management, Baldwin said.
“Cybersecurity is one of our fastest growing degree programs,” she said. “We started with 26 students in 2022, and it has expanded to 249 students today.”
A Banner Year for Nursing and Health Sciences
Last year, the university’s nursing program celebrated a banner year after receiving a $2 million gift from Cape Fear Valley Health to boost future healthcare professionals. Known as the Cape Fear Valley School of Nursing, the program enrolls over 900 students.
Cape Fear Valley Health’s gift comes on the heels of another $2 million appropriation from the UNC system in 2024 as part of a systemwide grant.
FSU also received $900,000 from Cape Fear Valley Health to support a state-of-the-art health and wellness center on campus.
The new 24,631-square-foot center will consolidate clinical care, health education, and counseling under one roof, said Hector Molina, FSU’s chief operating officer.
“We hope to open it before the end of this calendar year, and it will house not only health and wellness services, but it will have an on-campus pharmacy,” Molina said.
Brick and Mortar: A Campus Transformed
The health and wellness center is just one of several capital improvements on campus, Molina said.
Last August, the university opened its new 72,000-square-foot education building, funded with a $69.3 million appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly. It features a STEM lab, outdoor learning spaces, and a dedicated mock courtroom for pre-law students.
“It’s an amazing building, and our faculty, students, and staff love working in that space,” Molina said. “We’re looking forward to producing more teachers in North Carolina.”
With growth comes an increased need for student housing, and FSU has answered the call, Molina added.
In 2025, the university cut the ribbon on Bronco Pride Hall, a $50 million dormitory spanning 87,930 square feet with 336 double-occupancy rooms that will help accommodate on-campus living, which rose 65% over the last five years. Today, student housing is home to more than 1,700 residents.
A Legacy Rooted in History and Service
Fayetteville State University is the oldest public HBCU institution in North Carolina, founded in 1867 as the Howard School. It became Fayetteville State University in 1969 and joined the UNC system in 1972.
The military has a strong presence at FSU, home to two ROTC programs for both the U.S. Army and the Air Force. More than 2,500 military-affiliated students represent about one third of the university’s student body, the highest in FSU’s history, according to Baldwin.
“We are adjacent to one of the largest military installations in the country,” she said. “Its presence is woven into the fabric of our culture, and we’re intentional about ensuring our military students are successful.”
Backing from the Department of Defense
A new Military and Veterans Academic Center, currently under construction in the historic H.L. Cook Building on campus will add resources to the 18,300-square-foot building to provide counseling and academic support for students and is projected to open in 2028.
In February 2025, FSU became the first public university to sign an educational partnership agreement with the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg for curriculum development.
And last September, the university was one of five institutions receiving a $10 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to establish artificial intelligence for defense systems, biomanufacturing, battlefield communication, and disaster response.
Molina said the resources and efforts pouring into the university are part of a 10-year strategic master plan with ambitious goals for growth, academic success, and contributions to local workforce and economic development initiatives.
Partnering for the Path to Graduation
To further bolster workforce development and opportunities for local students to succeed, FSU collaborates with Fayetteville Technical Community College to support the FTCC Keen Scholarship, which provides a transfer pathway and financial support for associate degree graduates to transition into FSU and later into jobs.
The work has resulted in rising graduation rates, Baldwin said, reaching 36% for six-year graduates for the first time with a target of 50% by 2031.
To continue improving graduation rates and support student success, the university’s 30-60-90 Summer School Program is backed by a $6.5 million gift from Anonymous Trust and a $2 million award from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
The summer school program provides free summer credits, housing, and meals to help students hit the milestones they need to graduate in four years—30 credits for sophomores, 60 for juniors, 90 for seniors.
Taking its hands-on approach a step further, FSU has established teams of advisers to shepherd students through their college experience, Baldwin said.
“Our success counselors support students through tutoring, at our writing center, and our mathematics lab. Our goal is to make sure students that come in the door as freshmen will cross the stage in four years and graduate.”
“Our success counselors support students through tutoring, at our writing center, and our mathematics lab,” she said. “Our goal is to make sure students that come in the door as freshmen will cross the stage in four years and graduate.”
By the Numbers
- ~7,800 total enrollment today; 8,000 targeted by fall 2027
- 80%+ student retention (up from 63% in 2021)
- $69.3M NC General Assembly appropriation for the new education building
- $50M Bronco Pride Hall dormitory (336 double-occupancy rooms)
- $10M DoD research grant for AI, biomanufacturing and defense systems
- 2,500+ military-affiliated students — about a third of the student body
Life Beyond the Classroom
Vibrant campus life keeps students engaged and eager to stay in college through graduation. FSU has made broad changes that make campus an enjoyable place to be, Molina said.
“We continue to build on our student experience, like the Bronco Horseshoe near our College of Education where we station six food trucks every week,” he said. “It’s exciting to see students gather there and fellowship with each other at lunchtime.”
One source of pride and school spirit is FSU’s athletics program, offering students a chance to compete in NCAA Division II sports in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
As of mid-October, the Broncos were tied for fourth place in the conference standings.
At homecoming, students, alumni, and visitors were not disappointed. The Broncos trounced their rival Elizabeth City State University Vikings 43-7, handing FSU football fans one more reason to celebrate.
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