Howard University
Washington, DC 20059
About Howard University
Howard University is a private research university in Washington, District of Columbia, with about 10,108 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 41.34% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $63,066 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Howard University charges 22% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($35,810).
- Versus the District of Columbia median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 69.96%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $63,066.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Howard University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 212% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Howard University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 83 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard University | $35,810 | $50,539 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| District of Columbia (state median) | $19,530 | — | 14 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Howard University really?
Key findings
- Howard University charges 22% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($35,810).
- Versus the District of Columbia median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
Howard University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $35,810
Finding Howard University charges 22% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $35,810. That is 22% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the District of Columbia median ($19,530), sticker tuition is about 1.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.0×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Howard University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Howard University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Howard University is $50,539.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $50,539 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $30,486 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Howard University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Howard University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Howard University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$35,810
Avg. net price
$50,539
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Howard University is known for
Top program completions
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General209
- Political Science and Government, General196
- Psychology, General182
- Law152
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other137
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 21% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1213
- Midpoint ACT: 24
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Howard University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Howard University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Howard University.
Campus
Location
Washington, DC
City / state
- ZIP
- 20059
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 2.5× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
10,108
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 13,017
- Graduate
- 3,371
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 40.00%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Howard University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1213 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 24 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.40
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Howard University reported total enrollment of about 10,108 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 27% male and 73% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (6.9%), and Two or More Races (5.4%). About 40.00% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 23.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Howard University in 2024 is 10,108 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 13,017 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,371 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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 20% male / 80% female
- Political Science and Government, General: 21% male / 79% female
- Psychology, General: 11% male / 89% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Howard University graduates earn a median of $63,066 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Howard University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $63,066. Median federal loan debt: $24,500. Average net price used in cost models: $50,539.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Howard University graduates report median earnings of $63,066 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Howard University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (83 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Howard University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Howard University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Howard University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$926.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- District of Columbia median 7.0× the median ($133M)
- Mid East median 22× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 35× the median ($26.4M)
- District of Columbia median 1.1× the median ($68,912)
- Mid East median 4.5× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 6.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 64.2%
- District of Columbia median 7.1 pp above median (57.1%)
- Mid East median 7.4 pp above median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 6.3 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,580
- District of Columbia median 1.4× the median ($8,291)
- Mid East median 1.4× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,944
- District of Columbia median 1.1× the median ($13,241)
- Mid East median 1.6× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 2.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Howard University at a glance
Howard University
Howard University is a private non-profit institution in Washington, DC, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, GeneralPolitical Science and Government, GeneralPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American76.8%Hispanic or Latino6.9%Two or More Races5.4%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Howard University
Other campuses in Washington, DC when available, plus nearby institutions in District of Columbia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within District of Columbia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Howard University located?
Howard University is located in Washington, DC.
What is Howard University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Howard University is 41.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 30,342 applicants and 10,587 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Howard University's tuition?
Howard University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $35,810 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $50,539 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Howard University cost?
Reported tuition is $35,810 and average net price is $50,539 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,322 annually.
What explains Howard University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($50,539), completion (70.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($63,066). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Howard University?
Howard University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 13,017 students, Black or African American (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (6.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Howard University?
About 23.6% of students at Howard University are first-generation college students.
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.
Is Howard University public or private?
Howard University is a private nonprofit institution located in Washington, DC.
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
- District of Columbia college profile
- District of Columbia college costs
- District of Columbia colleges by ROI
- George Washington University vs Howard University vs Georgetown University
- Washington, District of Columbia city profile
- Mid East regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in District of Columbia
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.