Heading into the 2026-27 academic year, William Peace University has achieved its highest enrollment level in the past six years. With a roughly 8% year-over-year increase in total students, fueled by a significant 11% surge in transfer admissions, this momentum reflects the success of strategic partnerships and a campus-wide focus on sustained, intentional expansion.*
Vice President for Enrollment Management Damon Wade noted that this growth underscores the deliberate efforts of Peace’s faculty and staff to position the University as a leading academic institution.
“Small private institutions often struggle to keep pace in higher education, but I am encouraged by Peace’s continued incremental growth,” he said. “This success stems from building a University that meets students’ needs and inspires them to choose Peace intentionally. They recognize the direct connection between their goals and the opportunities Peace provides.”
Admissions staff have observed prospective students responding to Peace’s focus on immersive learning and the impressive statistic that 96% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within one year of graduation. And as institutional visibility increases, students feel a stronger connection to the University’s brand and messaging.
“We’ve done a great job of exposing the brand to broader audiences in the Triangle and across the state,” Wade said. “Increasingly, more people are starting to consider Peace as a serious educational option. And we have a team dedicated to supporting students as they enroll or transfer, ensuring their questions are answered along the way.”
President Jennifer Walsh expressed confidence in Peace’s enrollment growth, even as final data continues to shift ahead of the fall census.
“These enrollment trends signal growing confidence in Peace and in the distinctive educational experience we provide,” she said. “Students and families are looking for strong academic programs, meaningful relationships with faculty, a clear connection between college and career, and demonstrable employment outcomes. Our growth suggests that this powerful combination is resonating in the community.”
Transfer Pathways Accelerate University Growth
Transfer students demonstrated the highest growth compared to traditional first-time-in-college and online students. This increase is largely attributed to Peace Pathways, a direct transfer pipeline established with Wake Technical Community College. Launched in August 2025, the program broadens access to four-year degrees by streamlining the transfer process, saving students both time and money.
“With the Wake Tech Peace Pathways program now entering its second year, we’re seeing how much of an impact it’s made,” Jessica Waddell, assistant director of transfer admissions, said. “Our focus goes beyond increasing enrollment — we are committed to making the transfer process seamless and removing barriers for students looking to pursue a four-year degree.”
Through this partnership, Wake Tech graduates receive guaranteed admission to Peace, enjoy reduced tuition rates, and pay no application fee. Prospective transfer students can request a transfer credit evaluation at any stage, even prior to submitting an application.
This summer, Peace Pathways expanded to include a direct transfer process with Durham Technical Community College, building on the success of the Wake Tech partnership. This expansion enables further institutional growth and offers new opportunities for students looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Peace.
Beyond the Peace Pathways program, Waddell credits strong leadership and top-level support for strengthening transfer growth.
“I’ve been here about five years, and I’ve noticed a really positive shift, with everyone rallying to support our transfer students,” she said. “It’s not enough to say we want to increase enrollment — we have to be ready to support those students once they arrive. We’re cultivating those relationships, finding out what students need, and taking the right steps to support them, both during the transfer process and once they’re officially a student at Peace.”
Commitment to Student Success Boosts Retention
Student retention plays a critical role in overall enrollment growth. Over the past four years, Peace’s first-year to sophomore retention rate for in-person students has risen by approximately 14%, reaching 74% in 2025. The rate is projected to remain stable this year.
Provost Lynda Szymanski cites Peace’s renewed commitment to student success as the driving force behind increased retention in both in-person and online programs over the past few years.
“We work to identify factors that hinder student success or contribute to students leaving, and then implement strategies to address those challenges,” she said. “For example, one of the things the retention committee found was that students who had not declared their major by the end of sophomore year were much less likely to stay, so we streamlined and accelerated the major declaration process.”
Szymanski emphasized the importance of factoring retention into overall enrollment numbers. While attracting students to Peace is an important step, they must feel supported once they start their programming. If not, they are likely to stop out or leave altogether, and Peace loses bright members of the campus and online communities.
“Student success requires ensuring that all students feel supported, connected, and able to persist through graduation,” she said. “We are making meaningful progress, and sustaining that momentum requires shared responsibility across the University. From faculty members creating supportive classroom environments to staff members checking in with students, every interaction can strengthen a student’s sense of belonging and support.”
Based on retention committee recommendations, Peace has introduced academic department gatherings open to all class years, fostering connections with faculty, alumni, and peers. Additionally, a life coaching program for virtual learners has been launched and is available to Peace Online students this fall. Students have expressed increased satisfaction and a stronger sense of belonging because of these efforts.
“We’ve received very positive feedback,” Szymanski said. “With the departmental gatherings, for example, students were so excited to connect with faculty, alumni, and their peers outside the classroom. We’re hearing from students that these initiatives are positively impacting their overall Peace experience.”
Vision for Sustained Growth
As President Walsh kicks off her first year, she is keeping ambitions for continued growth at the top of mind.
“Our goal is to surpass 1,000 students within the next four years, but we are committed to thoughtful, intentional growth,” she said. “We will continue strengthening our in-person experience while expanding Peace Online, developing and launching graduate programs, building additional transfer pathways, serving more military-connected students, and deepening partnerships with employers throughout the Triangle.”
While growth is important, maintaining a robust Peace experience centered on student success remains the highest priority. By balancing expansion with a strong focus on the individual student experience, Peace is strengthening its mission to serve as a vital hub for education and career readiness in North Carolina.
“As we grow, we will remain committed to protecting what makes Peace special: our close-knit community, personalized education, and unwavering commitment to student success,” Walsh said.
*Statistics as of August 18, 2026
