Howard University
Howard University is a private non-profit college or university in Washington, DC, with about 83 programs reporting completions in the federal extract used on this page. It reports a completion rate of about 69.96% for the cohort window published by the Education Department—one yardstick, not the whole story of student success.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $35,810
- 2024 Average Net Price: $50,539 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 41.34% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 10,108 97.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 69.96%
- Average SAT Score: 1213
Howard University: what the data shows
Common questions about Howard University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Howard University?
Howard University is located in Washington, DC (ZIP 20059).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Howard University public or private?
Howard University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Howard University cost?
Published tuition: $35,810.
Average net price after aid: $50,539.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $46,051 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $47,477 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $50,245 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $52,981 |
| $110,001+ | $54,270 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $143,240.
How hard is it to get into Howard University?
Admission rate: 41.34%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1213 and midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Howard University?
Total enrollment: 10,108 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Howard University?
150%-time completion rate: 69.96%.
First-year retention: 90.9%.
What do graduates of Howard University earn?
Median earnings: $47,379 six years after entry; $63,066 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,500.
40.00% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Howard University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (2,912 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (209 completions)
- Social Sciences (196 completions)
- General Psychology (182 completions)
- Law (JD) (152 completions)
- CIP 099999 (137 completions)
- Social Work (127 completions)
- Computer Science (97 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (97 completions)
- CIP 511201 (95 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Howard University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 41.34%; completion rate 69.96%; median earnings $63,066 at 10 years; net price $50,539. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$35,810
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Howard University was $35,810.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$50,539
2024 Value
In 2024 Howard University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $50,539.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$202,156 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$50,539 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$143,240 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Howard University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
40.00% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
58.79% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Howard University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Howard University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $22,683 | $22,683 | $22,823 |
| 2014 | $23,970 | $23,970 | $23,191 |
| 2015 | $23,970 | $23,970 | $24,729 |
| 2016 | $24,908 | $24,908 | $24,156 |
| 2017 | $25,697 | $25,697 | $23,424 |
| 2018 | $26,756 | $26,756 | $39,792 |
| 2019 | $27,206 | $27,206 | $41,289 |
| 2020 | $28,440 | $28,440 | $41,388 |
| 2021 | $28,916 | $28,916 | $45,837 |
| 2022 | $31,050 | $31,050 | $45,180 |
| 2023 | $33,344 | $33,344 | $47,919 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
41.34% Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1213
ACT Average: 24
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Howard University in 2024 is 10,108 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
90.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
59.55% 100% Completion Time
69.96% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 59.55% of students graduating from Howard University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Howard University.
Return on Investment
$24,500 Median Student Debt
$63,066 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
38.85% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
211.97% Return on Investment
3.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Howard University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
General Biological Sciences: 209 completions
Social Sciences: 196 completions
General Psychology: 182 completions
Law (JD): 152 completions
CIP 09.9999: 137 completions
Social Work: 127 completions
Computer Science: 97 completions
Health Professions and Related Programs: 97 completions
CIP 51.1201: 95 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 2,912 completions
Most popular programs at Howard University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Howard University graduates.
About
Howard University is a private non-profit institution located in Washington, DC, offering 83 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 10,108 students. It is selective, with an admission rate of 41.34%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1213. The institution maintains a 69.96% graduation rate. Approximately 40.00% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Washington, DC 20059
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 83 distinct degree programs, Howard University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Howard University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $35,810 and average net price is $50,539 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Howard University?
The admission rate is 41.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Howard University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Howard University reports midpoint SAT about 1213 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Howard University earn?
Median earnings are $47,379 six years after entry and $63,066 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Howard University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 70.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Howard University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,500.
How big is Howard University?
Total enrollment is about 10,108 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Howard University public or private?
Howard University is a private nonprofit institution located in Washington, DC.
Is Howard University an HBCU?
Yes. Howard University is flagged as a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in IPEDS.
Is Howard University a tribal college?
No. Howard University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Howard University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Howard University does not meet that proxy (reported share 6.9%).
Is Howard University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Howard University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.