Wiley University

Wiley College, established in 1873 by the United Methodist Church, is a private historically Black college located in Marshall, Texas, approximately 150 miles east of Dallas. The campus occupies 77 acres in a small-town setting and features a mix of historic and modern academic buildings, including the Thomas Winston Cole Sr. Library. As one of the oldest historically Black colleges west of the Mississippi River, Wiley College is recognized for its liberal arts curriculum, with notable programs in sociology, business administration, and mass communications. The college gained broader recognition following the 2007 film "The Great Debaters," which depicted the success of Wiley's debate team during the 1930s under professor Melvin B. Tolson. Students reside in traditional residence halls on campus, and the college competes in the NAIA Gulf Coast Athletic Conference as the Wildcats.