What makes Howard different
- A historic HBCU. Howard has produced many of the nation's Black professionals in medicine, law, engineering and the arts.
- A close-knit Bison community. More than 200 clubs, Division I teams, historically Black Greek organizations and a well-known Homecoming.
- Washington as a classroom. Government, 176 diplomatic missions and cultural events are close at hand.
What Howard students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): biology (202), political science (194), psychology (170), communication, journalism, and related programs (137), health sciences (97) and public relations and advertising (87). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Howard if…
- You want a historically Black university with deep traditions.
- You'd like to be in Washington, D.C.
- You're interested in health, business, communications or political science.
Worth asking about
- Which programs, like architecture or fine arts, have extra requirements?
- What scholarships are available, and when are they awarded?
How Howard compares with similar universities
Howard has the lowest published tuition of the private universities in this group, and admitted 41.3% of applicants for fall 2024. See early decision, early action and test policies at all 19 universities.
FAQ
What is Howard University's acceptance rate? 41.3% for fall 2024: 14,144 of 34,211 applicants were admitted.
What is Howard University's early decision acceptance rate? 49.4% for fall 2024: 172 of 348 early decision applicants were admitted, compared with 41.3% of all applicants. Early decision is binding, and the early applicant pool differs from the regular one, so neither rate predicts any one student's chances. Howard also offers non-binding early action. Source
Does Howard require the SAT or ACT? No. Howard says SAT and ACT scores are optional for first-year applicants, and applicants who skip them are not penalized. This applies to students applying in 2026–27 for fall 2027. Source
Does Howard charge out-of-state tuition? No. Howard is private, so published tuition and fees are the same for students from any state: $35,810 a year before aid. About 94% of first-year students came from outside D.C.
How much is Howard tuition per semester? About $17,905 a semester, half the published $35,810 a year, before aid.
Is Howard an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Howard University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Howard? About 10,100 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is Howard known for? Its history as a leading HBCU, its Homecoming, and its Washington location.
How much does Howard cost? Published tuition and fees are $35,810 a year before aid, and the total cost of attendance is $54,630. Students who received aid paid $45,180 a year on average.
Wondering if an HBCU fits you?
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