Howard University

Howard University Overview

Howard University is a private, nonprofit school in an urban setting in Washington, DC. Howard University was founded in 1867 and now enrolls around 10,859 students a year, including 7,857 undergrads. Howard University offers housing for up to 5,230 students.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Howard University! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of Howard University's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Howard University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? Howard University has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Howard University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Howard University on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Howard University on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! February 15, 2022 is the final deadline to submit an application for Fall. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should hear from Howard University by December 20.

2021 Howard University Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar	Semester
Overall Acceptance Rate	39%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	38%
Early Action Acceptance Rate	55%
Average GPA	3.6
Applicants Submitting ACT scores	55%
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	78%
Tuition	$28,450
Percent of Need Met	20%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package	$24,778

Is Howard University a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions difficulty and admitted student statistics can give you a sense of how competitive a college is, but they don't tell you how happy or successful students are. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a look at each of these factors to get a clearer idea of what Howard University offers and if it could be a good choice for you.

2021 Acceptance Rate for Howard University

It is moderately difficult to get into Howard University. Around 39% of applicants get into Howard University each year. Last year, 24,325 students applied to Howard University and 9,398 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Howard University

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Howard University, around 90% come back their sophomore year. Around 64% of students who started at Howard University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outcomes for Howard University Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Check with Howard University directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Howard University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2021, the total market value of the school endowment was $712.4 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Howard University spends about $21,849 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Howard University

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Howard University meets 20% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $24,778 a year.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2021 was around $35,086 per student, not including those with no debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Howard University. Based on this information, how does Howard University sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Howard University a good school for you?

If Howard University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Where is Howard University?

Howard University is located in the urban setting of Washington, DC.

If you want to see Howard University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take I-395 to Washington, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Reagan National.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Howard University and Washington are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in DC?

See a full list of colleges in DC and save your favorites to your college list.