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Howard University

Washington, District of Columbia · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$50,539What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
41%
Graduation rate
69%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
10,108
In-state tuition
$35,810Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$35,810
SAT midpoint
1,185
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$63,066Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$50,539

Better than 1% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

69%

Better than 74% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$63,066

Better than 73% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$24,500

Better than 53% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$54,630

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$50,539

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Howard University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time69%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return91%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$24,500
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$63,066

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Howard University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Systems Analysis$92,324Not reported
Finance and Financial Management Services$81,07454
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$79,64643
Management Information Systems and Services$78,54435
Business Administration, Management and Operations$64,23127
International Business$61,04017
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$39,12096
Political Science and Government$31,897148
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$30,73377
Biology, General$28,696186
Criminal Justice and Corrections$27,80152
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$25,878121
Psychology, General$18,934132
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$17,09532
MarketingNot reported65
Computer ScienceNot reported56
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherNot reported45
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralNot reported42
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralNot reported36
SociologyNot reported30
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesNot reported30
ArchitectureNot reported29
EconomicsNot reported25
Nutrition SciencesNot reported24
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported21
Mechanical EngineeringNot reported21
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reported18
ChemistryNot reported17
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported17
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reported16
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesNot reported16
Accounting and Related ServicesNot reported15
Chemical EngineeringNot reported15
Civil EngineeringNot reported14
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, OtherNot reported12
MusicNot reported11
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported9
MathematicsNot reported9
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported8
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reported7
Computer EngineeringNot reported7
HistoryNot reported6
PhysicsNot reported6
PhilosophyNot reported5
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported4
Area StudiesNot reported1
JournalismNot reportedNot reported
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported

All 49 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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