Howard University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees

HBCU Large city

41%Acceptance rate

$50,539Average net price / year

70%Graduation rate

$63,066Median earnings 10 yrs after entry

$24,500Median debt at graduation

10,108Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees: $35,810
Total cost of attendance: $54,630
Room & board: $17,322
Books & supplies: $1,360
Average net price: $50,539

Net price by family income

$0–30k: $46,051
$30–48k: $47,477
$48–75k: $50,245
$75–110k: $52,981
$110k+: $54,270

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 41.3%
Average SAT: 1213
SAT reading (25–75%): 560–670
SAT math (25–75%): 530–650
ACT composite (25–75%): 22–28

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 70%
First-year retention: 91%
Median earnings (6 yrs): $47,379
Median earnings (10 yrs): $63,066
Median debt (graduates): $24,500
3-year loan default rate: 0.0%
Students with Pell grants: 40%
Students with federal loans: 59%

Programs: what graduates earn

43 of 134 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Bachelor's degree

Program	Graduates	Earnings	Median debt
Computer Systems Analysis	—	$92,324	—
Finance and Financial Management Services	54	$81,074	$20,197
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	43	$79,646	$24,000
Management Information Systems and Services	35	$78,544	$20,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations	27	$64,231	$25,000
International Business	17	$61,040	$24,000
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	96	$39,120	$25,750
Political Science and Government	148	$31,897	$24,375
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	77	$30,733	$26,500
Biology, General	186	$28,696	$25,000
Criminal Justice and Corrections	52	$27,801	$25,874
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other	121	$25,878	$26,000
Psychology, General	132	$18,934	$24,437
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management	32	$17,095	$27,000
Sociology	30	$34,117	$23,500
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	42	$36,363	—
Fine and Studio Arts	17	$27,683	—
Health and Medical Administrative Services	30	$46,937	$27,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	7	$148,440	—
Accounting and Related Services	15	$64,178	—
Marketing	65	$50,911	$25,000
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other	45	$54,178	—
Economics	25	$46,273	$27,000
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	—	$25,171	—
Civil Engineering	14	$77,997	—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	16	$58,917	—
English Language and Literature, General	21	$37,506	—
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other	12	$39,150	—
Journalism	—	$44,872	—

Master's degree

Program	Graduates	Earnings	Median debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations	87	$105,240	$76,816
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	11	$66,784	$87,872
Social Work	76	$57,362	$86,750
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	—	$74,462	—
Theological and Ministerial Studies	11	$51,400	—
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions	28	$85,098	—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	2	$56,349	—

Doctoral degree

Program	Graduates	Earnings	Median debt
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology	6	$65,156	—
Educational Administration and Supervision	8	$108,698	—

First professional degree

Program	Graduates	Earnings	Median debt
Dentistry	79	$88,347	$316,095
Law	135	$81,173	$185,348
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration	63	$79,588	$236,918
Medicine	98	$66,233	$247,248

Graduate certificate

Program	Graduates	Earnings	Median debt
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences	12	$169,939	—

Students

Undergraduates: 10,108
Graduate students: 3,629
Part-time: 2%
Women / men: 73% / 27%
White: 0%
Hispanic: 7%
Black: 77%
Asian: 1%
International: 4%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio: 13:1
Avg faculty salary: $104,220 / year
Full-time faculty: 64%
Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Website: www.howard.edu
Also known as: HU

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Howard University?

41.3% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1213 on the SAT.

How much does Howard University cost?

The average net price after grants is $50,539 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $35,810 and the full cost of attendance is $54,630.

How much do Howard University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $63,066 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

70% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in Washington

College	Net price	Acceptance	Graduation	Earnings
George Washington University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 11,182 students	$36,586	47%	84%	$90,873
Strayer University-Global Region Washington, DC · Private for-profit · 9,376 students	$17,833	—	14%	$40,092
Georgetown University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 7,569 students	$40,815	13%	95%	$103,494
American University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 7,266 students	$41,943	62%	75%	$77,370
University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC · Public · 3,351 students	$10,648	—	33%	$44,236
The Catholic University of America Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 3,154 students	$29,561	83%	79%	$73,250
Trinity Washington University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 1,414 students	$9,302	100%	49%	$53,804
Gallaudet University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 812 students	$15,845	58%	47%	$43,101
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus Washington, DC · Private for-profit · 809 students	—	—	33%	$34,961
Bennett Career Institute Washington, DC · Private for-profit · 176 students	$11,824	—	51%	$22,568

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.