U Shortlist

Private nonprofit · Washington, District of Columbia

Howard University

Urban campus · 10,108 undergraduates · 13 students per faculty member · Official website

Acceptance rate
41%
ACT middle 50%
22–28
Average net price
$50,539
per year, after grants
6-year graduation
70%
University namesake and founder Oliver Otis Howard
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Is Howard University a reach, a target or a likely for your student?

Add a GPA and test scores and U Shortlist shows admission odds, the net price at your income, and how Howard University fits against what your family said matters, on a map of 1,546 colleges.

See it for your student, free

What Howard University costs

Net price is what a first-year student pays for a year after grants and scholarships, by family income. It is usually far below the sticker price.

Net price by family income

Under $30,000
$46,051
$30,001 – $48,000
$47,477
$48,001 – $75,000
$50,245
$75,001 – $110,000
$52,981
Over $110,000
$54,270

For students receiving federal aid.

These are averages for each income band. Your family's price at your income, next to every other school on your list, is in your account.See your family's price →

Price and aid

Full cost of attendance (sticker)
$54,630
Tuition and fees
$35,810
First-years given a grant by the school
96%
Average grant from the school
$19,228
Median debt at graduation
$24,500
The school's own net price calculator
Open ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate
41%
SAT middle 50%
1090–1320
ACT middle 50%
22–28
Test scores
Considered, not required
First-year retention
90%

Your student’s ACT puts them ? here

Below, inside or above the range, with the acceptance rate, decides reach, target or likely. U Shortlist works it out from your student’s own scores and keeps it separate from fit.

Check your student’s odds →

Howard University athletics

NCAA D1, 11 women's and 8 men's sports

Varsity teams and roster sizes
SportWomen’s rosterMen’s roster
Basketball1418
Bowling7–
Cross country9388
Football–100
Golf1212
Lacrosse34–
Soccer3332
Softball35–
Swimming & diving2626
Tennis108
Track & field9388
Volleyball18–

Participants reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A dash means no team for that side.

Find every NCAA D1 school with women’s soccer within 300 miles of you, on one map with net price and admission odds.Search by sport →

Academics and outcomes

Most popular fields

Business & marketing
16%
Health professions
13%
Communication & journalism
12%
Social sciences
11%
Biological & biomedical sciences
10%
Psychology
8%

Share of bachelor’s degrees awarded.

6-year graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
90%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$63,066
Median debt at graduation
$24,500
Students with a Pell grant
40%

Similar colleges nearby

Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (admissions, prices, outcomes), IPEDS Student Financial Aid 2023–24 (school grants) and Equity in Athletics 2024–25 (teams). No college paid to appear here or can pay to be ranked.

Ready to see the map for your student?

Sign in with Google or Apple and your household is ready in a minute. The map, odds and net price are free.

Get started

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS and Equity in Athletics. Photos: Wikimedia Commons. © 2026 U Shortlist.