Florida Memorial University 2026 enrollment reaches 2,556 students-the highest in the 147-year historyof the HBCU
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University (FMU) announced today that its Fall 2026 enrollment has reached 2,556 students-the largest enrollment in the institution’s 147-year history and a 100 percent increase over Fall 2025.
The milestone represents a defining moment in FMU’s ongoing transformation and reaffirms its standing as South Florida’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
The record enrollment reflects renewed confidence among students, families and the broader community in FMU’s academic mission, campus investments and leadership under President William Cullen McCormick Jr., the university’s 15th president and the first alumnus to serve in the role.
“Let history record this moment,” President McCormick said. “In 147 years, no enrollment has ever been larger than this one. A 100 percent increase in enrollment is not an accident of circumstance; it is the direct result of decisive leadership, disciplined execution, strategic innovation and an institution that refuses to be defined by its critics. We told this community that our response to doubt would not be words, but results.”
Today, 2,556 students stand as evidence of what is possible when vision is matched with action.
“This is not a peak. This is our new floor,” McCormick continued. “Florida Memorial University has established a new standard for what we can achieve-and we are not finished. We will build higher, reach farther and continue moving this university forward with purpose, courage and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
University officials emphasized that FMU’s enrollment growth is being supported by a continued commitment to academic integrity, institutional investment and student success.
“At Florida Memorial University, our growth strengthens-rather than compromises-the quality and rigor of the FMU academic experience,” McCormick said. “We are demonstrating that scale and standards can advance together, with student success and academic excellence remaining at the center of our mission. That is the standard we have set for ourselves, and it is the measure by which our continued progress should be evaluated.”
FMU officials attribute the enrollment surge to the university’s broader institutional momentum, including expanded recruitment initiatives, strengthened community partnerships and renewed stability following a period of public scrutiny. University leaders have maintained that FMU’s response to challenges would be demonstrated through measurable results rather than reactions to criticism.
“This historic enrollment milestone is a powerful affirmation that students and families are choosing Florida Memorial University because they see a clear pathway to opportunity, excellence and success,” said Dr. Tymon M. Graham, vice president for Student Affairs. “Our enrollment growth reflects the impact of a focused recruitment strategy, stronger community partnerships and an unwavering university-wide commitment to student success.”
Florida Memorial University’s Fall 2026 enrollment reflects the institution’s founding values of Leadership, Character and Service, as well as its guiding promise:
Rooted in Legacy. Rising in Excellence.
About Florida Memorial University
Florida Memorial University is a private, four-year Historically Black College or University (HBCU) located in Miami Gardens, Florida. Founded in 1879, FMU is South Florida’s only HBCU and has a 147-year legacy of academic excellence, leadership development and community impact. The university prepares students for global citizenship through scholarship, service and lifelong leadership.
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This story was originally published September 2, 2026 at 9:39 PM.