- Wade College is a privately sponsored college offering an associate degree program in merchandising and design. The college is a teaching institution that emphasizes specialized professional study and the liberal arts.
School Highlights
Wade College serves 252 students (39% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 18:1 is lower than the state community college average of 34:1.
Minority enrollment is 79% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 75%.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Enrollment: 252 students
- Private-state tuition: $13,055
- Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
- Minority enrollment: 79%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
Wade College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Texas for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
School Overview
The teacher population of 14 teachers has declined by 39% over five years.
Wade College
(TX) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
0
Institution Level
Four or more years
0
Institution Control
Private for-profit
0
Year Founded
1962
Colors
Green, Blue
Total Faculty
14 staff
73 staff
Number of Programs Offered
-2
8
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of Wade College has grown by 40% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 18:1 has increased from 8:1 over five years.
The Wade College diversity score of 0.72 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
252 students
4,221 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
34:1
# Full-Time Students
99 students
869 students
# Part-Time Students
153 students
3,352 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
208 students
363 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
99 students
837 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
39 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
153 students
3,377 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
39 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
252 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
% Asian
5%
6%
% Hispanic
29%
47%
% Black
38%
13%
% White
21%
25%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
2%
% Non Resident races
n/a
2%
% Unknown races
2%
5%
Diversity Score
0.72
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
47%
17%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
67%
32%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$29,900
$34,600
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The private state tuition of $13,055 is less than the state average of $13,749. The private state tuition has declined by 16% over four years.
Private State Tuition Fees
$13,055
$13,749
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
88%
88%
Median Debt for Graduates
$25,540
$10,630
Median Debt for Dropouts
$8,250
$5,500
Acceptance Rate
n/a
75%
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
- The college began by offering courses in professional modeling and fashion merchandising in day and evening classes. In 1965, the college moved from its location in the Turtle Creek area of Dallas to within the Dallas Market Center complex, and in 1971, the professional modeling and evening classes were discontinued in favor of total emphasis on full-time enrollment in merchandising. Now the college offers a dual Associate of Arts degree in Merchandising and Design. The college offers a solid general education curriculum, designed to provide an introduction to major areas of knowledge and to stimulate individual interests in specialized fields. Students may specialize in graphic design, fashion design, interior design, merchandise marketing, or fashion/interior merchandising. Students benefit enormously from the college's location within the Dallas Market Center complex, which offers the ideal professional environment for individuals seeking industry experience and early exposure to the merchandising and design industries. Wade College offers students opportunity to learn in the heart of the merchandising and design industries. The college is part of the Dallas Market Center, the world's largest wholesale merchandising and design complex. The Dallas Market Center is a 6.9 million square-foot complex consisting of four buildings. The giant complex consists of the Trade Mart, Market Hall, International Floral Design Center, and the World Trade Center. Students have daily access to a complex that hosts over 50 markets a year. Wade College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Wade College cost?
Wade College's private state tuition is approximately $13,055.
What is Wade College's ranking?
Wade College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Texas for: Diversity in US community colleges.
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