Howard University

Howard University is moderately difficult to get into. Howard University admitted 35% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 29,396 applications received in 2023, 10,362 students were offered admission.

If you are considering submitting an application to Howard University, the regular decision application deadline is February 15 and the application fee costs $45.

Students who submit their applications to Howard University for the fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than April 15.

Howard University Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of Howard University's admissions stats.

Howard University 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	18%
Mean SAT Score	1204
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	27%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	10%
Waitlist	Yes

Howard University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Howard University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	December 18
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 18
Regular Decision	Yes	2 15	April 15

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Considering Applying Early to Howard University?

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Howard University offers early decision and also offers early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 18.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Howard University will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 18.

The early decision acceptance rate at Howard University is 49%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 35%.

Howard University accepts around 55% of early action applicants and 35% all applicants for all deadlines. Last year, Howard University admitted 218 of the 441 students who applied early decision. Last year, Howard University admitted 4,549 of the 8,314 who applied early action.

Some students apply to college early to boost their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of admission, since it shows that you are very interested in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some top colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Howard University Admissions

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Transferring to Howard University

Transfer student admissions is moderately difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Howard University

Howard University has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Howard University?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at Howard University

What does Howard University consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Application Essay	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Class Rank	Considered
Extracurricular Activities	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with Howard University for more information on admission factors.

Howard University Application Requirements

To apply to Howard University, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Howard University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Other Requirements	√	√	–	Standardized test scores required; campus visit recommended
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Howard University?

Students admitted to Howard University have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 2% submitted a class rank. At Howard University 18% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 59% were in the top 25% and 91% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Howard University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	6.4%
3.75 and 3.99	37.7%
3.50 and 3.74	33.8%
3.25 and 3.49	14.4%
3.00 and 3.24	7.4%
2.50 and 2.9	0.3%
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Howard University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Howard University has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 27% of Howard University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 10% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Howard University?

To be competitive with other Howard University applicants, you should strive to earn between 1100 and 1270 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Howard University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1270 and 25% of scored lower than 1100, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Howard University student is 1204.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Howard University students scored 640 or higher and 75% of students scored 550 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Howard University students scored 650 or higher, and 75% scored a 550 or higher.

To be most competitive at Howard University, you should strive to earn between 21 and 26 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 26 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Howard University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 26, and three out of four students scored lower than 26 on the ACT.

A 21 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Howard University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 21.

More Information on Transferring to Howard University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to Howard University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 8. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in Howard University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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Howard University Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Howard University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Howard University.

Does Howard University accept transfer credits?

✅ Howard University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Howard University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Howard University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Howard University?

❌ No, Howard University is test optional, so you can choose whether to send your standardized test scores. If you have higher than average scores, you should strongly consider submitting them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Howard University's acceptance rate?

✅ Howard University has an acceptance rate of 35%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Howard University?

✅ Howard University's early decision acceptance rate was 49% in 2021.

What is the early action acceptance rate at Howard University?

✅ The early action acceptance rate at Howard University was 55% in 2021.

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