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Wiley College was founded by the Freedman’s Aid Society in 1873 with the intent of training teachers for careers in black elementary and secondary schools. Today Wiley’s education programs are just a part of its focused curriculum, which includes 15 distinct degree programs. Increasingly, students of other races as well as international students are finding Wiley to be an attractive place, as evidenced in the college’s recent record enrollment of 965 students.
Wiley earned rare international visibility with the 2007 release of the feature film The Great Debaters, directed by and starring Denzel Washington. The movie told the story of the Wiley College debate team’s 1935 victory over that year’s national champion. Thanks to the success of the film and a generous donation from Washington, Wiley has reestablished its debate program.
Located west of historic Marshall, Wiley’s intimate campus covers 63 acres. In the early 1900s Wiley College was one of the first schools in the region to form a band, and its musical groups and ensembles still attract many students. Fraternities and sororities are also part of campus life. Wiley’s athletic teams, which compete in the NAIA and the Red River Athletic Conference, have won multiple national championships.
The school is situated in Harrison County, with Dallas 145 miles to the west and Shreveport 38 miles to the east. This location offers access to the amenities of both cities, while at the same time providing an environment for students’ learning and intellectual growth away from the distractions of big-city life.