Academics
Fayetteville State University (FSU) started as a teacher’s college and continues to honor those roots with a renowned education program, even as it has expanded as a curriculum leader in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In 2010, the university established a Center for Defense and Homeland Security, which partners with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare FSU students for careers in STEM, cybersecurity, national security, and emergency management disciplines. The center provides hands-on training and internationally recognized certifications. Student research is valued and promoted at FSU, with programs like the Interdisciplinary Materials Research and Education Laboratory, McNair Scholars, and the Fayetteville State University Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (FSU-RISE)—a federally-funded program with a mission to increase the number of minority students well-prepared for a career in biomedical and behavioral research. FSU offers a total of 77 baccalaureate programs for undergraduates. And on-campus master’s programs include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, School Administration, and Social Work. Students can also work toward online master’s degrees in Sociology, Psychology, and Nursing. Various graduate certification programs are offered and include specialized fields like cybersecurity management, healthcare management, military behavioral health, and creative writing.
Career
Fayetteville State University is nationally recognized for its support of military personnel and their families; according to Military Times, it was the highest ranking HBCU on their 2021 “Best for Vets” list. The school leans into that affiliation, so much so that nearly 30% of the student body has military connections, and many of those students share backgrounds in receiving GI Bill and Military Tuition Assistance. This also means that the culture at FSU skews a little older: 50% of the population is experienced and over the age of 24. However, regardless of background, FSU makes a concerted effort to unite its students through common interests, whether those are academic, spiritual, honors, Greek life, or other special interests. These events are open to off-campus enrollees as well, with additional forums and services provided to help address life off-campus.
Culture
Unsurprisingly, given its education roots and military history, there are notable alumni in those two areas. Dr. Algeania Warren Freeman was the twentieth president of Wilberforce University, the nation’s oldest private historically Black university. Michele S. Jones was once the highestranking Black enlisted female in any military branch and served as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense under President Obama. But FSU graduates have also gone on to excel in business, particularly fashion: Marquelle Turner-Gilchrist works as the Merchandising Manager for the Men’s Ready-to-Wear Division of Gucci Americas, while Benjamin “BJ” Washington is a fashion entrepreneur whose PopularStranger line has notable fans from the NFL, NBA, Hollywood, and New York. According to Payscale. com, the median salary for a mid-career FSU graduate is $73,100.
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