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Howard University

Private

Washington, DC

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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

Admit rate41%
SAT range1090–1320
ACT range22–28
Undergrads10,108
Yield (admits who enroll)24%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$54,630
4-year grad rate69%
Median earnings, 10yr out$63,066

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

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How Howard University weighs your application

From Howard University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresVery important
Application essayConsidered
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesConsidered
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesImportant
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans59%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out35%

"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

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$60,923/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Management Information Systems and Services$103,478/yr
International Business$100,344/yr
Accounting and Related Services$98,645/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$88,875/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$80,094/yr
Marketing$77,820/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$67,881/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$59,909/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$73,929/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$94,136/yr
Health and Medical Administrative Services$68,877/yr
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$60,047/yr
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Criminal Justice and Corrections$55,902/yr
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$61,316/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$59,069/yr
Social Sciences
Political Science and Government$65,733/yr
Economics$63,972/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Fine and Studio Arts$54,696/yr
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$44,345/yr

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

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity6,010
Typical room chargeNot reported
Typical board chargeNot reported

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

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

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?

Admitted students at Howard University typically score between 1090–1320 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Howard University?

Admitted students at Howard University typically score between 22–28 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

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 earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (ED1), 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.

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