Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 4-year · HBCU
Howard University has a 34.9% acceptance rate. Howard University is a private nonprofit 4-year institution in Washington, DC, with a median SAT of 1210 and a median ACT of 25. The average net price is $50,539 per year after financial aid, and it is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Data updated April 2026.
34.9%
30,342 applicants
1210
Combined score
25
Composite score
$50,539
After financial aid
Middle-50% test scores of admitted students at Howard University (25th to 75th percentile), per federal IPEDS data:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT (total, 400–1600) | 1100 | 1210 | 1320 |
| ACT (composite, 1–36) | 22 | 25 | 28 |
0.7%
90.9%
N/A
10,108
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships at Howard University:
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $46,051 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $47,477 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $50,245 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $52,981 |
| $110,000+ | $54,270 |
| Major | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Business, Management & Marketing | 284 |
| Social Sciences | 270 |
| Communication & Journalism | 225 |
| Health Professions | 206 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 202 |
| Psychology | 170 |
| Engineering | 92 |
| Computer & Information Sciences | 81 |
| Parks, Recreation & Fitness | 76 |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 69 |
Official website: https://www.howard.edu/
Admissions: https://www2.howard.edu/admission
Howard University has an acceptance rate of 35%. it received about 30,342 applications in a recent year; admitted students have a median SAT near 1210; the average net price is $50,539 per year. Admit Coach estimates your personal odds of admission to Howard University for free using your GPA and test scores.
Getting into Howard University is competitive — it admits 35% of applicants. Admitted students typically have a median SAT around 1210. Your odds depend on how your GPA and scores compare to admitted students. Admit Coach calculates your specific chance at Howard University for free and labels it a reach, target, or safety school.
Admitted students at Howard University typically have a median SAT around 1210 and a median ACT around 25. With a 35% acceptance rate, competitive applicants usually score at or above these medians. Howard University is located in Washington, DC. Enter your scores in Admit Coach to see whether you land in the reach, target, or safety range.
The average net price at Howard University is $50,539 per year after grants and scholarships. about 100% of students receive financial aid; the average grant or scholarship is $21,422 per year. Net price varies by family income — Admit Coach shows the estimate for your specific income bracket.
Howard University has a graduation rate of 1%. its first-year retention rate is 91%. These federal outcome metrics let you compare Howard University against similar colleges on Admit Coach.
For the 2025–26 cycle, Howard University is test-optional, meaning you can choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. Students who do submit scores typically have a median SAT near 1210. With a 35% acceptance rate, a strong overall application matters most. Admit Coach factors Howard University's testing policy into your free admission-chance estimate.
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