Baltimore's Morgan State University has hit a milestone this fall by becoming the third-largest historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the United States, with a record enrollment of nearly 11,000 students. This marks an increase of 9.4 percent over the previous year, and the university submitted these figures to the Maryland Higher Education Commission, showcasing an enrollment of 10,739 students for Fall 2024, with a significant surge in their freshman class and the highest-ever enrollment in the institution's graduate programs.
In the details released, the freshman class at Morgan State accounted for 2,369 new students, a four percent increase from 2023, and what stands out as noteworthy is that over 50 percent of these new undergraduates came from outside Maryland this year, a consistent pattern for the fourth year in line even though 53 percent of students, counting in both undergraduate and graduate, hail from within the state as the university continues to draw a student body that crosses state lines and even international borders. Morgan State has transformed into a university of choice, transcending its local foundation and cementing a national, if not global, footprint. As the Baltimore Fishbowl detailed, it attracts students from 41 states and seven nations with an impressive average incoming high school GPA of 3.16.
The prominence of Morgan State is echoed by University President David K. Wilson, who said, "Morgan’s record-breaking enrollment for Fall 2024 is a testament to the growing recognition of the transformative education and opportunities we offer," stressing that this achievement reflects the commitment of faculty, staff, and alumni in establishing Morgan as a prime hub for education, GazetteXtra reported. These accomplishments are ahead of Morgan State's strategic plan projections, which had forecasted a student body of 10,000 by 2030.
In addition to academics, the university has made significant improvements in infrastructure and student housing. It now offers accommodation to about 48.4% of its students, well above the national average of 30%. This includes on-campus and off-campus housing, with 2,706 on-campus beds available.
