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Washington , DC
Howard University is a prestigious and historically black university located in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1867, it is recognized as one of the top national research institutions in the United States. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, cultural diversity, and social justice, Howard University offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various disciplines.
The university's academic strengths are particularly notable in the fields of medicine, law, business, engineering, and communications. It is well-regarded for its Howard University Hospital, College of Medicine, and School of Law, which have produced many successful alumni who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. Additionally, Howard has a reputation for its highly regarded fine arts programs, including its School of Communications, which has educated notable figures in the entertainment industry.
Beyond its academic offerings, Howard University is known for its vibrant campus life and commitment to social justice. It embraces a rich cultural tradition, celebrates diversity, and fosters an inclusive community. The university hosts numerous student organizations, clubs, and extracurricular activities that provide students with opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and community engagement. Furthermore, Howard's location in the nation's capital allows students to take advantage of unique internships, networking opportunities, and interactions with policymakers and leaders in various industries.
Howard University is a private university located in Washington, DC and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 41%. The freshman retention rate at Howard University is 90.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 53%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is February 15. The transfer application deadline is November 15.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Howard University.
Quick Facts
11,519
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$35,344
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
53%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Here are the most essential data you need to know about admission at Howard University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 14,144 in 2025. Howard University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
47% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 16% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 5.95% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 31.14% between 1,200 and 1,399, 48.83% between 1,000 and 1,199, 13.69% between 800 and 999, and 0.39% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 20.6, 48.2 between 24-29, 28.2 in the range between 18-23, and 7.9 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 25 and the average GPA was 3.75. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 611 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 593.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Howard University is February 15. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is November 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Howard University was 90.6% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 53%.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the right place for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Howard University in 2025 was 14,890.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 95.11. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 11,519, 451 of which were foreign students. 190 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 3,611 male and 9,101 female full-time students in 2025. 863 full-time graduate men and 1,774 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 148, while the number of African American students was 7,764. 694 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 542 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 11 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 473 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Howard University estimated tuition fees.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $35,344 for all full-time domestic students. Since Howard University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $466.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial factor. The estimated price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,360.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Howard University was $17,322 in 2025. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $11,152 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $17,810.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 35,344 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,322 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,360 |
| Total Expense | $ 54,026 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for many students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Howard University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,785 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $25,069 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
5,229 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Howard University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 7,086. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $24,494,216, and state $122,500. The students of Howard University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $20,644,770, and external in the amount of $13,000.
$15,522
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
5,932 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 1,745 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $24,494,216 while the state aid is $231,542. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $135,192,566. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $830,175 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Howard University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 932 faculty members at this school. This number included 437 male and 486 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Howard University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Howard University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some information about campus life at Howard University.
It has a campus size of 257 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 150 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 8% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 6 for female students. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Entrepreneurial Society, Howard University, followed by International Student Organization and Campus Pals. Other popular organizations among the students at Howard University are Undergraduate Student Assembly and Howard University Student Association.
Those who like music can join the Howard University band or chorus. For those drawn to acting, there is a drama club where you can participate. You have a passion for media and communication? Howard University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Howard University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Howard University.
All in all, campus life at Howard University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Howard University.
Career Counselling
At Howard University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Howard University is located in Washington, DC.
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Howard University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Howard University is 35,344 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Howard University is 41%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Howard University is 90.6%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
