District of Columbia · Washington
Howard University
Chartered by an act of Congress in 1867, Howard is a private research university in Washington, D.C. with graduate and professional programs including law and medicine; widely regarded as an HBCU flagship.
Snapshot
At a glance
Undergraduate enrollment
10,108
Admission rate
41%
Retention (first-year)
91%
Completion (150% of time)
70%
Pell recipients
40%
Black undergraduate share
77%
These figures come from federal college data updated May 26, 2026. A dash means the number was not available.
Student body
Undergraduate composition
Black
77%
Hispanic
7%
White
0%
Asian
1%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0%
Two or more races
5%
Nonresident
4%
Unknown
5%
Percentages may not add to 100% when a category is not reported.
Costs
Tuition and financial aid
Tuition, in-state
$35,810
Tuition, out-of-state
$35,810
Median federal loan debt
$19,200
Federal loan recipients
59%
Pell recipients
40%
Sticker tuition only. Real cost after federal, state, and institutional aid is typically lower — see the school’s net price calculator.
Outcomes
Earnings, retention, and completion
Median earnings, 6 years
$47,379
Median earnings, 10 years
$63,066
Median debt
$19,200
Retention
91%
Completion
70%
Earnings and debt are shown only when federal data is available.
Institution
Campus and classification
Accreditor
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Campus setting
City: large
Carnegie basic
Doctoral universities: high research activity
Undergraduate profile
Full-time four-year, selective, lower transfer-in
Size and setting
Large four-year, highly residential
Average faculty salary
$11,580 monthly
Full-time faculty share
64%
DOE unit ID
131520
These labels describe the school’s size, location, and academic mix. They are not rankings.
Test scores
SAT and ACT
SAT (average)
1,213
ACT composite (25th–75th)
22–28
Middle 50% of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Many HBCUs are test-optional or test-flexible; confirm the current policy at admissions.
134 programs
Academic programs
Undergraduate certificate · 1
- Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
Bachelor · 49
- Accounting and Related Services
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Architecture
- Area Studies
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
- Biology, General
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Computer Systems Analysis
- Criminal Justice and Corrections
- Economics
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
- English Language and Literature, General
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
- Health and Medical Administrative Services
- History
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
- International Business
- Journalism
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Management Information Systems and Services
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
- Music
- Nutrition Sciences
- Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and Government
- Psychology, General
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Sociology
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Master · 40
- Accounting and Related Services
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
- Architecture
- Area Studies
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Biology, General
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
- English Language and Literature, General
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Fine and Studio Arts
- History
- Law
- Mechanical Engineering
- Music
- Non-Professional Legal Studies
- Nutrition Sciences
- Physics
- Political Science and Government
- Psychology, General
- Public Health
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Special Education and Teaching
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
- Theological and Ministerial Studies
Doctoral · 29
- Area Studies
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Biology, General
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
- Communication and Media Studies
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
- English Language and Literature, General
- Genetics
- History
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
- Nutrition Sciences
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
- Physics
- Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
- Political Science and Government
- Psychology, General
- Social Work
- Sociology
First professional · 6
- Dentistry
- Law
- Medicine
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
- Theological and Ministerial Studies
Graduate certificate · 9
- Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
- Area Studies
- Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Computer Science
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- International/Globalization Studies
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
This is a broad program list. Check the school’s own catalog for current majors, minors, concentrations, and course details.