Academic Excellence
Johnson & Wales is powered by a belief that every student deserves a high-quality education that can prepare them for success in a meaningful career. JWU takes intentional steps to embrace a teacher-scholar model, strengthen the student experience, and build upon our strong connections with industry to engage students in real world learning. Over the past year, JWU faculty and students have engaged in exciting research and scholarship and the university continued to invest in high-impact practices that support a quality education for our students.
Letter from the Chancellor
The launch of the university’s current strategic plan, Powered by Purpose 2024, has created momentum that continues to propel Johnson & Wales forward today. Over the past two years, we have been focused on setting the foundation for a 10-year vision to position Johnson & Wales as an innovative and comprehensive university that prepares students for careers and leadership in a wide range of industries.
The hard work and achievements of our faculty and staff have been recognized. We are gratified to receive external validation from our accrediting agency, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which has accepted our five-year report and granted us approval to move forward with a doctorate in physical therapy. The College of Engineering & Design has submitted a self-study to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), and the College of Business has been qualified for eligibility with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
For the second year in a row in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, the JWU Charlotte Campus is in the top 25% of the schools in the Regional Colleges, South category, and the JWU Providence Campus continues its climb in the Regional Universities, North category.
In Providence, we welcomed the first cohort of students seeking an accelerated second degree in nursing; we will offer the same program at our Charlotte Campus in 2024. We also expanded our health care portfolio by introducing a Master of Public Health program at the Providence Campus and celebrated a 100% pass rate for the first graduating cohort of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.
The university’s corporate engagement programs are growing with companies like Bank of America, Neiman Marcus, Feast & Fettle, and Fidelity.
Our strategic financial management has enabled us to continue to invest in our employees by renewing professional development funding and in our facilities by creating engaging learning environments. The generosity of our friends and supporters continues to be important in strengthening Johnson & Wales’ fiscal footing. Every year, we continue to build on the culture of giving and engagement through new ways that connect and support the JWU community. The university’s annual day of giving; oneJWU: 24 hours; and the End of the Fiscal Year campaign are some of the many ways JWU’s fundraising efforts have supported operational needs.
In 2022, we celebrated 50 years of hospitality management education, and in 2023, we paid tribute to 50 years of culinary education with a gala at our Culinary Arts Museum that raised funds for student scholarship and travel. As we welcome 2024, we embark on a journey filled with new milestones, opportunities and challenges, all guided by our mission and powered by purpose.
Forever JWU.
MIM L. RUNEY, LP.D.
CHANCELLOR
University Stats
Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students on its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes and economic mobility rankings.
8,182
STUDENTS FROM 54 COUNTRIES
Experiential Education
JWU students are invested in their education and intentional about their experiences, ensuring that their learning is authentic and purposeful. These students thrive in JWU’s supportive community, which encourages their passion for hands-on learning, values their intellectual curiosity, and immerses them in dynamic labs and career-focused classrooms.
Employers tell us that JWU graduates demonstrate a strong work ethic, embrace challenges and ask the right kinds of questions. The university’s commitment to providing students with a practical, relevant education provides industry with agile graduates who are real-world tested and are ready to enter a highly dynamic workforce.
1,457
AT 874 SITES IN 43 STATES
Rankings
The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education has listed JWU on its 2022 College Rankings, which focuses on students’ engagement with studies, interaction with teachers and satisfaction with educational experience. JWU placed in the Regional North’s Best Universities Overall, Best Value Schools, and Top Performers on Social Mobility. The latter measures how well schools graduated students who received Pell Grants, given to students from households with annual incomes of less than $50,000. Money Magazine also ranked JWU among its 2022 Best Colleges by its value, quality of education, affordability and outcomes including graduates’ earnings, employment status, career trajectory and socioeconomic mobility.
JWU is committed to making a quality education as accessible and affordable as possible. The university has taken proactive steps to manage student debt by increasing institutional aid over the past several years. Approximately 98.5% of all JWU on-campus students receive institutional scholarships and/or grants from the university, often making an education at JWU more affordable than other universities.
UNDERGRADUATE TUITION:
$37,896
jwu.edu/admissions/paying-for-college for more
95.4%
CAREER OUTCOMES RATE
Career Outcomes
Johnson & Wales University enjoys a 95.4% career outcomes rate for our 2021 graduates universitywide who earned a bachelor’s degree. This rate reflects the percentage of JWU graduates who secure full or part-time employment, are enrolled/accepted in a program of study to continue their education, are performing voluntary service, or enlist in military service within six months of graduation. The 2021 JWU rate is approximately 11.3 percentage points higher than the national average. For campus-specific rates and more information, visit jwu.edu/career-outcomes.
Community Impact
As integral members of the Johnson & Wales community, our faculty and staff are already some of the university’s most passionate supporters. Their work is critical to the success of our students and our university. Many employees also choose to make a gift each year to amplify their support and help strengthen JWU for generations of students to come. This dedication to our community demonstrates their belief in the university’s mission and their financial support signifies their confidence in JWU’s future as an institution. Their impact can be felt in every area of the university.
Forever JWU Giving Society
Johnson & Wales University proudly recognizes our donors’ charitable giving, which supports our students on the path to fulfilling their academic potential, professional ambitions, and personal aspirations. Each circle consists of individual and corporate donors who believe in the university’s mission of providing a transformative experience inspiring professional success and lifelong personal and intellectual growth.
Breakdown of JWU Giving Circles:
1914 Society
The 1914 Society honors the many alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends who have included the university in their estate plans. Whether through a will, trust, life insurance policy or retirement plan, becoming a member of the 1914 Society is a way to support an aspect of the JWU experience that is especially meaningful.
“Your support has empowered me to pursue my dreams and strive for excellence in my chosen field. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and giving back to my community in the future.”
RAYMOND FIGUEROA ’26
Epicurean Scholarship Society
The Epicurean Society is part of the university’s holistic commitment to making higher education both affordable and accessible.
Membership in this distinguished group offers unique culinary experiences while supporting our hard-working students. Society events — led by guest chefs who are assisted by JWU students and faculty — include culinary demonstrations, receptions, seated dinners and cocktail gatherings.
Membership donations and annual contributions to the Epicurean Scholarship Society provide scholarship support that helps to fulfill the aspirations of talented culinary and hospitality students. Given today’s challenging economic environment, this philanthropic endeavor is more important than ever.
Mary & Gertrude Society
The Mary & Gertrude Society was established in the names of our founders, Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales, who in 1914 had the courage and vision to create Johnson & Wales University. More than a century later, we are proud to honor them by recognizing our loyal donors who have supported the university for three or more consecutive years.
Each year, gifts to JWU help provide the stability and flexibility needed to help power a new era of innovation and ambitious advancements in academics.
College & Academics
With six colleges preparing students for success in countless industries, Johnson & Wales’ renowned experiential education approach is applied across a variety of disciplines. When it comes to supporting Wildcats in the classroom and in labs, the choice is yours. Each college relies on the support of alumni, corporate sponsors and donors who believe in our mission and our students. Your gift will be used to support the specific needs of the college or program of your choice.
The Student Experience
At Johnson & Wales, experience is the difference. And we’ve been perfecting the experiential education approach for more than 100 years. It’s woven into all aspects of our education, in and out of the classroom. Internships, student organizations, clubs and campus programming all contribute to an industry-focused education that prepares the leaders of tomorrow. You can direct your support to an area that is uniquely JWU and ensure all students have access to these opportunities.
Athletics
Win at everything. That’s the motto of our student-athletes. JWU Athletics unites our campus communities and our varsity and club teams to compete with the same passion our students bring to their academic pursuits. On the field, the court, the mat and the pitch, student-athletes represent the four tenets of the Wildcat Way: Pride, Character, Courage and Community.
JWU Fund
Gifts to the JWU Fund go to work where they’re needed most. They are unrestricted and allow us to say “yes” to upgrades, enhancements, new ideas and urgent needs on the Providence and Charlotte Campuses.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Did you know that more than 98.5% of on-campus JWU students receive a scholarship or financial aid of some kind? Your gift can open doors and a whole new world of opportunities. Whether you establish an endowed scholarship fund or combine your gift with thousands of others to meet the growing need for financial aid, you have the power to change lives.
CULTURE OF GIVING
Leading By Example
“Helping to contribute to an academic scholarship is the least I can do…So many students have inspired me.”
Built for Possibilities
JWU on the Rise
Connected by Purpose
BUILT FOR POSSIBILITIES VIEW 2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT
JWU ON THE RISE VIEW 2021-2022 ANNUAL REPORT
CONNECTED BY PURPOSE VIEW 2020-2021 ANNUAL REPORT
