Warner University

Warner University is a private Christian university located in Lake Wales, Florida. Established in 1968 and affiliated with the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts, business, education, ministry, and professional studies. Its rural Central Florida campus serves traditional residential students as well as adult and online learners. Warner University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The institution integrates faith and learning in its academic programs and student life, and it competes in intercollegiate athletics as a member of the NAIA. Students are often drawn to its small class sizes and Christ-centered educational environment.

Warner University was founded in 1968 in Lake Wales, Florida, as Warner Southern College by leaders of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). The first freshman class of 27 students enrolled in the fall of 1968, establishing the foundation for a Christ-centered liberal arts institution in Central Florida. In 1969, Leroy Fulton was appointed the first president, guiding the college through its early development. Warner received regional accreditation in 1977, a significant milestone that strengthened its academic standing. Enrollment grew steadily through the 1980s and 1990s, and the campus relocated to its present site west of U.S. Highway 27. In 2008, reflecting expanded academic offerings and institutional growth, Warner Southern College officially became Warner University. Since then, Warner University has added new academic facilities, residence halls, and athletic complexes while continuing to serve students in Lake Wales and beyond.