Howard University Tuition and Fees

Howard University Tuition and Fees

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      By Jennifer Calonia

      (Last Updated – 06/2025)

      Howard University, located in Washington, D.C., is a private, nonprofit college. It’s ranked among the top historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the U.S. because of its rigorous preprofessional programs.

      In this guide, we’re providing an overview of Howard University’s tuition costs, housing expenses, acceptance rate, popular majors, and more.

      Total Cost of Attendance

      Howard University tuition for the 2024-25 school year was $35,810 for both in- and out-of-state students.

      Costs for 2024-25

      Tuition & Fees

      $35,810

      Books & Supplies

      $1,360

      Food & Housing

      $17,322

      Other Expenses

      $3,540

      Total Cost of Attendance

      $58,032

      Financial Aid

      All students (100%) received some form of financial aid to cover Howard University costs. One-hundred percent of first-time Howard students received grant or scholarship aid, and 44% of students were awarded Pell Grants, which is a federal student loan program for students who demonstrate an exceptional financial need.

      Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

      The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

      •  Scholarships: Scholarships can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

      •  Grants: Grants are generally based on financial need. These can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

      •  Work-study: Federal Work-Study provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

      •  Federal student loans: Federal student loans are money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. They come with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

      Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

      You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

      •  U.S. Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

      •  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

      Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

      Private Student Loans

      At Howard University, 62% of students take out federal student loans and 8% take out private student loans. The average private student loan is $20,816.

      Private student loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

      What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

      Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

      If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

      Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

      Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

      The projected price of a four-year degree from Howard University is $143,240 in tuition and fees, based on 2024-25. For comparison, the national average cost of a four-year bachelor’s degree at a private institution is $166,160 in tuition and fees.

      Recommended: Washington, D.C. Student Loan & Scholarship Information

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      Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

      Costs for 2024-25

      Tuition & Fees

      $35,810

      Books & Supplies

      $1,360

      Total

      $37,170

      In 2024-25, the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies was $37,170.

      Graduate Tuition and Fees

      Costs for 2024-25

      Tuition

      $38,454

      Fees

      $724

      Total

      $39,178

      Howard University tuition for graduate school, plus fees, is $39,178. This is slightly below the national average of $41,540 at a private university in the U.S.

      There are graduate loans that can help with these costs.

      Cost per Credit Hour

      For the 2024-25 academic year, the estimated cost per credit hour is $1,250. To graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Howard, students must earn a minimum of 120 credits.

      Campus Housing Expenses

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expenses

      On-Campus

      Off-Campus

      Food & Housing

      $17,322

      $850+/mo*

      Other Expenses

      $3,540

      $6,946

      Total Living Expenses

      $20,862

      Varies

      *Based on one-bedroom (or studio, etc) pricing. Average rate based on available apartments on Howard University off-campus housing website in 2025.

      Howard University has nine housing options on campus, and five residence apartments that are located off-campus. First- and second-year students, as well as transfer students, are guaranteed housing assignments on campus, if desired.

      Students who prefer to live off-campus can check out Howard University’s off-campus housing guide .

      Howard University Acceptance Rate

      Fall 2023

      Number of applications

      30,342

      Number accepted

      10,620

      Percentage Accepted

      35%

      In fall 2023, Howard University acceptance rate was 35%. It is a competitive university with 10,620 students accepted of the 30,342 who applied.

      Admission Requirements

      Students who are interested in applying to Howard University for the fall term must submit their applications by February 1. First-time college students applying to Howard must meet certain basic eligibility requirements for admissions, which includes submitting their GPA and high school transcript along with additional information listed below:

      Required:

      •  High school GPA

      •  High school transcript

      •  Letter of recommendation

      Recommended:

      •  SAT / ACT scores

      SAT and ACT Scores

      SAT and ACT scores are not required, but recommended. The school guarantees that students who choose not to submit scores are not at a disadvantage for doing so. This admissions policy doesn’t apply for joint-degree programs (e.g. BS/MD, BS/DDS, BA/JD). In fall 2023, 27% of Howard applicants submitted SAT scores and 10% submitted ACT scores as part of their application.

      Though there are no required test scores for admissions, here are the scores by subject at the 25th and 75th percentile:

      Subject

      25th Percentile

      75th Percentile

      SAT Evidence-Based
      Reading/Writing

      560

      660

      SAT Math

      540

      638

      ACT Composite

      22

      28

      ACT English

      23/td>

      30

      ACT Math

      21

      26

      Graduation Rate

      These are the graduation rates at Howard University for students who began in fall 2017.

      •  4 years: 60%

      •  6 years: 69%

      Post-Graduation Median Earnings

      Students who graduated from Howard University had median earnings of $63,066. This is slightly below the national average salary of $68,680 for college graduates.

      Bottom Line

      Howard University is a prestigious historically Black university, known for strong academic curriculum and student engagement. Compared to the average cost of a private, nonprofit institution, the Howard University cost of tuition and fees is relatively low at $35,810 for an academic year.

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