Howard University
PrivateWashington, DC
Howard University, in Washington, DC, is a private large school, enrolling around 10,108 students. Admissions are moderately selective here -- roughly 41% of applicants get in. Among reported majors, Management Information Systems and Services shows the strongest outcomes -- $103,478/year in median earnings four years after graduation. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Howard University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 47% submitted SAT scores, 15% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Action: Nov 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: Feb 1, 2027
Confirm on Howard University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Howard University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Howard University weighs your application
From Howard University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Howard University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Howard University look for in applicants?
Per Howard University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, standardized test scores as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Howard University's acceptance rate?
Howard University in Washington, DC admits approximately 41% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Howard University?
Per Howard University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1050–1270 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Howard University?
Per Howard University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 20–26 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Howard University cost?
Howard University's total cost of attendance is reported at $54,630 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Howard University?
Howard University's deadlines are Early Decision Nov 1, 2026; Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Feb 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Howard University require students to live on campus?
No -- Howard University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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