Howard University

www.howard.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$32,878

7.5% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$30,028

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

34.9%

30,342 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

13,416

89.9% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

68.9%

1,431 Graduates

About

Howard University is a higher education institution located in District of Columbia, DC. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Howard University were General Biological Sciences (186 degrees awarded), General Political Science & Government (148 degrees), and General Psychology (132 degrees).

In 2023, 2,490 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Howard University. 71% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 29% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was black or african american (1,758 degrees), 11.6 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (152 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Howard University is $32,878, which is $1,875 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Howard University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 2,170 total borrowers.

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Howard University is $32,878, which is $1,875 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $30,028.

In 2023, 89% of undergraduate students attending Howard University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 57% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$32,878

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Howard University was $32,878. The cost of tuition at Howard University is $1,875 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Howard University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$30,028

2023 Value

6.18%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Howard University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $30,028. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Howard University grew by 6.18%.

This chart compares the average net price of Howard University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$17,130

Room and Board

$1,360

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Howard University was of $17,130 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 16.7% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,360. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Howard University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

89%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

57%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

89% of undergraduate students at Howard University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 2.2% with respect to 2022, when 91% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Howard University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Howard University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 2170 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Howard University received 30,342 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 58.1% annual growth. Out of those 30,342 applicants, 10,587 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 34.9% acceptance rate.

There were 13,416 students enrolled at Howard University in 2023. 27% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Howard University has an overall enrollment yield of 21.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

34.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

10,587

Accepted Out of 30,342

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Howard University was 34.9% (10,587 admissions from 30,342 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 53.4%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 58.1%, while admissions grew by 3.26%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Howard University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

27%

Submission Percentage (2023)

606

Scores Submitted (2023)

27% of enrolled first-time students at Howard University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Howard University had a total enrollment of 13,416 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Howard University is 12,060 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,356. This means that 89.9% of students enrolled at Howard University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Howard University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 68.8% Black or African American, 6.45% Hispanic or Latino, 4.57% Two or More Races, 3.06% Asian, 0.924% White, 0.395% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.104% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Howard University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (51.8%), followed by Black or African American Male (18.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.1%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (47%), followed by Black or African American Male (24.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.19%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

89.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Howard University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 13,416 students. The full-time enrollment at Howard University is 12,060 and the part-time enrollment is 1,356. This means that 89.9% of students enrolled at Howard University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Howard University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

90%

2023 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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Howard University was 90%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Howard University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Howard University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

Black or African American
9,228 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
866 enrolled students
Two or More Races
613 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Howard University is 68.8% Black or African American, 6.45% Hispanic or Latino, 4.57% Two or More Races, 3.06% Asian, 0.924% White, 0.395% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.104% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,432 students (10.7%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 1,046 more women than men received degrees from Howard University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Howard University is black or african american (1,758 degrees awarded). There were 11.6 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (152 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Howard University is General Biological Sciences (186 degrees awarded), followed by General Political Science & Government (148 degrees) and General Psychology (132 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Howard University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Architecture and Related Services (46 degrees awarded), Legal (136 degrees), and Communications (225 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Howard University are Other managers (378,318 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (371,626 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (189,460 people), Chief executives & legislators (167,175 people), and Postsecondary teachers (132,322 people).

The most specialized majors at Howard University in 2023 are Architecture and Related Services (46 degrees awarded), Legal (136 degrees), Communications (225 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (89 degrees), and Social Sciences (231 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Howard University are Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Aircraft pilots & flight engineers

The most specialized majors at Howard University are Architecture and Related Services (46 degrees awarded), Legal (136 degrees), Communications (225 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (89 degrees), and Social Sciences (231 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Howard University are General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (638,202 people), Elementary & secondary schools (527,796 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (511,770 people), Legal services (295,305 people), and Justice, public order, & safety activities (233,847 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Howard University.

Most Common (2023)

General Biological Sciences
186 degrees awarded
General Political Science & Government
148 degrees awarded
General Psychology
132 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Howard University was General Biological Sciences with 186 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Howard University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

722

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

1,768

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 722 degrees were awarded to men at Howard University, which is 0.408 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,768).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Howard University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 42 degrees were awarded to men at Howard University in General Political Science & Government, which is 0.378 times less than the 111 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 153 degrees were awarded to men at Howard University in General Biological Sciences, which is 3.83 times more than the 40 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

53%

100% Completion Time

64%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 53% of students graduating from Howard University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 64% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 65% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Howard University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0% of graduates (0 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

Black or African American
1,758 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
152 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
102 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Howard University is black or african american (1,758 degrees awarded). There were 11.6 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (152 degrees).

7.39% of degree recipients (184 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

Black or African American Female
1,261 degrees awarded
Black or African American Male
497 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
102 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Howard University is black or african american female (1,261 degrees awarded). There were 2.54 times more black or african american female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american male (497 degrees).

Operations

Howard University has an endowment valued at nearly $927M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 59.2M (6.39%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, Howard University had a total salary expenditure of 1.05B. Howard University employs 227 Associate professors, 196 Assistant professors and 191 Professors. Most academics at Howard University are Male Associate professor (122), Female Assistant professor (121), and Male Professor (119).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Howard University are: Management, with 495 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 298 employees, and Research with 141 employees.

Endowment

$927M

2023 Endowment

7.4%

growth from 2022

Howard University has an endowment valued at about $927M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Howard University grew 7.4% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $493M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Howard University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$442M

2023 Salaries

14.9%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Howard University paid a median of $442M in salaries, which represents 42.2% of their overall expenditure ($1.05B) and a 14.9% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 1.94% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.06% growth between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$90.4M

Instructional Salaries

832

Number of Employees

In 2023, Howard University paid a total of $90.4M to 832 employees working as instructors, which represents 20.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

227 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

495 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Howard University were Associate professor with 227 employees, Assistant professor with 196 employees, and Professor with 191 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Howard University were Management with 495 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 298 employees, and Research with 141 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Associate professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Howard University was Male Associate professor with 122 employees, Female Assistant professor with 121 employees, and Male Professor with 119 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Howard University.

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