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Howard University

Washington, DC
Known forDraws students nationallyTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 8, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 37,270 applied (fall 2024: 34,211)Howard University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 15,724 admits (fall 2024: 14,144)Howard University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 42% admitted (fall 2024: 41%)Howard University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 540–660 (fall 2024: 560–670)Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 510–620 (fall 2024: 530–650)Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 20–26 (fall 2024: 22–28)Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 88% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 91%)Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 2 applicants admitted

Howard admits about 1 in 2 applicants (42%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 88% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

42%

42%

acceptance rateSelective

Applied

37,270

Admitted

15,724

Yield

16%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.68

SAT middle 50%

1050–1270

10001600
ACT middle 50%

20–26

1836
Applications +149% since fall 2014 · admit rate 48% → 41%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 10,108 undergrads, where 40% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

10.1K

undergrads · larger than 89% of colleges

Diversity index

0.40

Pell Grant

40%

above the median

First generation

24%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FCS · Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.17 → 0.40 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Biology/Biological Sciences, General (10% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 64% of faculty are full-time. Spends $14,944 a year on instruction per student.

13 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 50% of colleges

Most popular major

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

10% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Management Information Systems and Services

$103.5K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

64%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$14.9K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $33,612 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $9.3K more than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $33,368 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $54,630.

38%

$33.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $9.3K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$54,630 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
15% · avg $18K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 38% of full price

Federal loans

59%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −1% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $63,066 ten years after enrolling, more than at 74% of colleges; 64% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.1 years of that salary.

64%

64%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$63.1K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.5K

≈ $260/month for 10 years

Retention

88%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 60% → 70% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price held about steady after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 149% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 48% to 41%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −1% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +149%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 48% → 41% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.17 → 0.40

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Morehouse College

33% admit · 2.8K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso SoutheastAlso private
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Florida International University

55% admit · SAT 1170 · 39.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso Southeast
Compare side-by-side

Spelman College

19% admit · SAT 1195 · 3.4K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso SoutheastAlso private
Compare side-by-side

Unity Environmental University

6.5K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Howard University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2024; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Howard University (2026)

    Howard University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 131520 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything