Edward Waters College was established in 1866 to educate the descendants of African Americans, newly emancipated from slavery. Today, its enrollment continues to be substantially African-American students from the Southeast and Northeast regions of the United States, while also welcoming students from all racial and ethical groups within the United States and from around the world.

The college is an accredited, private, four-year, liberal arts, coeducational, residential institution, committed to Christian principles which emphasize high moral and spiritual values, as a result of its close affiliation with, and support from, the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It offers baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences and other career-based professional fields.

The College enrolls students with a wide range of educational foundations, and it seeks to develop in each of its students the high levels of competence in basic social, thinking, listening, speaking, reading, writing, mathematical, technological, and leadership skills that are the characteristics of an educated person. It also seeks to develop within each student the breadth of knowledge, the commitment to service, and adherence to high ethical values that are the characteristics of a good citizen.

The institution strives to prepare its students to pursue further graduate and professional studies as well as to assume positions of leadership in commerce, industry, education, government and community service.