DrBanneker
Space is the Place
We last covered Southern University and A&M College which received an average score of 8.4.
See the updated leaderboard here
Today we head to Marshall, TX to look at Wiley College, one of the first HBCUs established west of the Mississppi. Established by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1873 and named for Bishop Isaac W. Wiley of the church. Originally set up to train clergy, it soon became a liberal arts school and while small, was one of the outstanding liberal arts HBCUs in the early 20th century.
For a small school, Wiley has had some singular accomplishments. Best known is the 1930s debate team led by faculty member Melvin Tolson. Dramatized in the film, The Great Debaters with Denzel Washington, they debated and beat the national champions, USC (Harvard in the movie), in 1935 generating national headlines. They participated in 75 debate competitions and only lost one. Denzel donated $1M to the school to re-launch the debate team and in 2014 they became the first HBCU to win the speech and debate competition at the Pi Kappa Delta Comprehensive National Tournament. Denzel was not the only donor to notice Wiley as at the past commencement in 2022, an anonymous donor paid all the Wiley grads college debt to leave them debt free.
Wiley was also one of the founding members of the SWAC, having one of the earlier HBCU college football programs, and was a member until .
Additionally, two Miss Wiley College winners have been the Miss National UNCF in the last few years.
Original 1935 debate team
The Great Debaters
Founded: 1873
City, State: Marshall, TX
Type: 4-Year Private Not-for-Profit (United Methodist Affiliated)
Nickname: Wildcats
Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 665 (all undergraduate), 93% Black
Part-time student percentage: 12%
First Generation Student Percentage: 42%
Percentage of students from households under $30k/over $100k: 80% / 2%
Out of State Percentage: 44% (Top States: Louisiana, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada)
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Admissions Acceptance Rate: Open admissions policy
4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 13% / 27%
Transfer out rate: 36%
Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 47% male/ 53% female (1.1:1 ratio)
Tuition: $14k
Median Federal Debt After Graduation: $24k
Median Parent PLUS Loans After Graduation: $16k
Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $33k
Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
Business Administration: $33k, Muti-disciplinary: $31k, Criminal Justice: $30k
Top Majors by Degrees:
Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Multi-disciplinary, Biology
Endowment: ~$7M
Alumni Engagement: 11.5% of alumni give back
Athletic Conference: Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) (NAIA)
Mascot: Wildcat
Notable Alumni:
James Farmer - "Big Four" civil rights leader and founder of CORE
Opal Lee - activist and "grandmother" of the federal Juneteenth Holiday
Lee Wilder Thomas - early 20th century oil businessman in Oklahoma (picture N/A)
Lois Towles - internationally known concert pianist and early internationally recognized Black model
Bill Spiller - professional golfer who spearheaded the desegregation of the PGA
Main Campus
Thirkield Hall
Fred Thomas Long Student Union
Julius S. Scott Sr. Chapel
Gym
Marching Band
Gone for 50 years, returning in 2023
Cheerleaders
Miss Wiley College
@invalid @Originalman @#1 pick @Ziggiy @SupaVillain @Tug life @Idaeo @get these nets @MostReal @Bryan Danielson @Rollie Forbes @Sonic Boom of the South @staticshock @Charlie Hustle @BigAggieLean. @Optimus Prime @How Sway? @DropTopDoc @Anerdyblackguy
latest College to go Uni. I think the last ones were Edward Waters and Bethune Cookman