Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Howard University is a private national university located in Washington, District of Columbia. Howard University is selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Howard University is in the bottom 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $56,236 10 years after enrolling, 5th in District of Columbia, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Howard University bachelor students earn 4% less than the national average. Howard University is ranked 5th in District of Columbia.
Howard University’s median net annual cost of $41,388 and average years to graduate of 4.4 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Howard University sorted by number of graduates - Biology, Poli Sci/Government, Advertising & PR, Psychology, Health & Fitness, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$41,388
Average years to graduate
4.4
Information Systems Mgmt.
Rank: #43
Economic score: 1.88
Registered Nursing
Rank: #595
Economic score: 3.91
Finance
Rank: #309
Economic score: 4.53
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
Rank: #17
Economic score: 5.78
International Business
Rank: #70
Economic score: 6.07
Marketing
Rank: #352
Economic score: 6.93
Criminal Justice
Rank: #343
Economic score: 9.87
Economics
Rank: #338
Economic score: 11.09
English Language & Lit
Rank: #336
Economic score: 13.11
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Rank: #27
Economic score: 138.94
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 5 graduate programs at Howard University - Social Work, Therapeutic professions, Business Administration, Theological Studies, Communication disorder sciences - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.4 years. 63% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Howard University is 2% lower than the state average, and 5% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Howard University, Pell Grant recipients represent 42% of the measured graduating class, 7% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Howard University graduates within 4.5 years.
Howard University is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Howard University’s economic mobility score of 13.86 is calculated by adjusting the 5.14 economic score of lower-income students by the 42% pell grant recipients within the student body. Howard University’s EMS of 13.86 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Howard University pays $41,388 a year, $7,862 less than the $49,250 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $41,388
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Howard University, 99% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $41,388 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 48% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,628. This is 6% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,811
Pell grants
$5,061
State grants
$1,094
Institutional grants
$20,010
Howard University's selective admissions are indicated by their 35% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 29,396 applicants, of which 10,362 were admitted and 2,768 enrolled. Howard University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
94%
83%
Female
72%
59%
First time
76%
59%
In-state
N/A
68%
1st generation
24%
35%
White
1%
52%
Black
67%
14%
Hispanic
7%
15%
Asian
3%
5%
American Indian
2%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
20%
12%