Morgan State outlines growth, research push and delays to proposed MD‑DO partnership school

Morgan State University officials told the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee that the institution has reversed prior enrollment declines and significantly expanded research activity, while flagging facility and program challenges that will affect future growth.

A DLS presentation reported undergraduate enrollment rose in fall 2023 and that out‑of‑state undergraduates now make up more than 40% of the undergraduate population. The analyst also noted the FY25 allowance contains $7.6 million in salary enhancements, $26.7 million in HBCU settlement funds and a $3.4 million general fund increase excluding salary enhancements.

President David Wilson described attaining a prior institutional enrollment target of roughly 10,000 students earlier than expected and said Morgan briefly reached 10,400 before the fall adjustment. “We are having internal conversations… where we may have to consider a pause in enrollment growth for a little bit because the demand for a Morgan degree is off the chart, but yet, the housing challenges are very, very real in Baltimore City,” he said.

Wilson also presented Morgan’s research progress and R1 ambitions. He told the committee the university reported roughly $51 million in research expenditures in its presentation period, cited a year with about $83 million in research grants and noted changes in the Carnegie classification methodology. DLS and the university discussed near‑term steps needed to reach R1 benchmarks, including doctoral production and facilities investment. The presentation noted Morgan could achieve R1 by 2028 if research expenditures reach a planned level (presented figure $59 million in one chart) and doctoral production goals are met.

On the proposed Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine, Wilson said the private partner model (Salud Education LLC) had planned to finance building demolition and construction but the project has experienced delays. “The project has experienced delays, and we understand, will not qualify to begin class in fall of 2024,” he said. The university said it remains in discussion with the private partner and would consider taking the project to the state if the private model does not materialize.

Committee questions focused on the effect of Carnegie changes on research investment, the status of the medical‑school facilities and the university’s capital request for a science complex. Morgan officials said the science complex reestimate presents a funding challenge and urged continued state capital support.