Howard University
Washington, DC · Private
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See the full analysis — freeAdmission rate
Howard University admitted 41.3% of applicants university-wide (14,144 of 34,211).
| Cohort | Admit rate | Admitted | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University-wide | 41.3% | 14,144 | 34,211 |
| In-state | 37.3% | 217 | 581 |
| Out-of-state | 40.4% | 13,032 | 32,271 |
| International applicants | 65.9% | 894 | 1,357 |
| Men | 39.8% | 3,967 | 9,963 |
| Women | 42.0% | 10,177 | 24,248 |
Also offers Early Action (closes Nov 1) — the Common Data Set doesn't publish EA admit counts.
Of 14,144 admitted students, 2,738 enrolled (19.4% yield).
Howard University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C1–C2 · 2024 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.
Test scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 1090–1320
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 22–28
- GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
- 3.50–3.50
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Howard University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C9–C12 · 2024 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $60,992/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $35,810 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $25,182 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $60,992/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $46,051 |
| $30k–48k | $47,477 |
| $48k–75k | $50,245 |
| $75k–110k | $52,981 |
| Over $110k | $54,270 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- Capstone Scholarship — $15,000 per year (Merit)
- Achievement Scholarship — $12,000 per year (Merit)
- Leadership Scholarship — $8,000 per year (Merit)
- Deans Scholarship — $5,000 per year (Merit)
- Founders Scholarship — Full cost of attendance (Full Ride)
- Howard University Grant — Varies (Need Based)
- Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
International applicants
No need-based aid reported for internationals.
- Capstone Scholarship — $15,000 per year (Merit)
- Achievement Scholarship — $12,000 per year (Merit)
- Leadership Scholarship — $8,000 per year (Merit)
- Founders Scholarship — Full cost of attendance (Full Ride)
- Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
Howard University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections G–H · 2024
Application requirements
US applicants
- Official transcript
- Test scores (SAT/ACT) (optional)
- Letters of recommendation (recommended)
- Supplemental essays (recommended)
- Application fee
International applicants
- Official transcript
- Test scores (SAT/ACT) (optional)
- Letters of recommendation (recommended)
- Supplemental essays (recommended)
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
- Application fee
Howard University Common Data Set · Application requirements · 2024
Essay prompts
The Common App personal essay is required (one of 7 shared prompts), plus 1 college-specific supplement:
- Howard University is a historically Black university with a legacy of producing leaders in all aspects of society. What experiences have led you to consider Howard as your university of choice? How do you see yourself contributing to the Howard community?500 words · Required
Draft these in the free Essay Coach
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $63,066
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 70%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 90.9%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $24,500
- At graduation
Howard University · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Published rankings
- U.S. News National: #88
- WSJ: #387
- Forbes: #383
- Niche: #274
- QS: #1001
Academics and campus
Largest degree fields: Business & marketing (16%), Social sciences (11%), Biological & life sciences (10%).
Student–faculty ratio: 10:1.
Howard University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections E, F, I · 2024 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.