2025-2026
Accept rate
42.2%
- Applicants
- 37,270
- Admits
- 15,724
- Enrolled
- 2,490
- Yield
- 15.8%
- ED Apps
- 430
- ED Admits
- 363
Total Applications
37,270
2025-2026
Acceptance Rate
42.2%
2025-2026
Enrolled Students
2,490
2025-2026
SAT Middle 50%
1050-1270
2025-2026
Howard University Admissions at a Glance
Howard University received 37,270 applications for 2025-2026 and admitted 42.2% of applicants; 2,490 admitted students enrolled (a 15.8% yield). That compares with an acceptance rate of 30.0% in 2016-2017. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1050–1270 on the SAT and 20–26 on the ACT. The total cost of attendance was $57,918, and the average need-based grant was $10,786.
Applications & Acceptance Rate Over Time
ApplicationsAcceptance Rate
Early Decision Applications
ED ApplicationsED Admits
Complete Admissions Data
2024-2025
Accept rate
41.3%
- Applicants
- 34,211
- Admits
- 14,144
- Enrolled
- 2,738
- Yield
- 19.4%
- ED Apps
- 348
- ED Admits
- 172
2022-2023
Accept rate
51.9%
- Applicants
- 19,537
- Admits
- 10,140
- Enrolled
- 2,493
- Yield
- 24.6%
- ED Apps
- 358
- ED Admits
- 169
2021-2022
Accept rate
35.3%
- Applicants
- 29,396
- Admits
- 10,362
- Enrolled
- 2,768
- Yield
- 26.7%
- ED Apps
- 441
- ED Admits
- 218
| Year | Applications | Admits | Enrolled | Accept Rate | Yield Rate | ED Apps | ED Admits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 37,270 | 15,724 | 2,490 | 42.2% | 15.8% | 430 | 363 |
| 2024-2025 | 34,211 | 14,144 | 2,738 | 41.3% | 19.4% | 348 | 172 |
| 2022-2023 | 19,537 | 10,140 | 2,493 | 51.9% | 24.6% | 358 | 169 |
| 2021-2022 | 29,396 | 10,362 | 2,768 | 35.3% | 26.7% | 441 | 218 |
| 2020-2021 | 24,325 | 9,398 | 2,360 | 38.6% | 25.1% | 368 | 138 |
| 2019-2020 | 21,006 | 7,578 | 1,925 | 36.1% | 25.4% | - | - |
| 2018-2019 | 20,946 | 6,617 | 1,501 | 31.6% | 22.7% | - | - |
| 2017-2018 | 16,815 | 6,964 | 2,079 | 41.4% | 29.8% | - | - |
| 2016-2017 | 18,225 | 5,468 | 901 | 30.0% | 16.5% | - | - |
SAT Score Trends (Middle 50%)
MedianMiddle 50% Range
25th Percentile
1050
50th Percentile
1150
75th Percentile
1270
Financial Aid Overview
Avg Aid PackageTotal Cost
Students Receiving Aid
78%
Need Fully Met
10%
Cost of Attendance Over Time
$57,918
2025-2026 Total COA
TuitionFeesRoom & Board
Tuition
$37,996
Fees
$940
Room & Board
$18,982
Change Since 2016
+48%
Student Demographics
Enrollment Over Time
UndergraduateGraduate
Demographics Over Time (% of Undergraduates)
WhiteAsianHispanic/LatinoBlack/African AmericanInternationalTwo or More
Undergraduates
11,084
Total Enrollment
14,432
International
4%
Students of Color
100%
Admissions Factors
Relative importance reported in the latest available Common Data Set.
Source: CDS 2025-2026, Section C7
Academic
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Considered
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Very Important
- Application essay
- Considered
- Recommendation(s)
- Considered
Nonacademic
- Interview
- Not Considered
- Extracurricular activities
- Considered
- Talent/ability
- Considered
- Character/personal qualities
- Important
- First generation
- Considered
- Alumni/ae relation
- Considered
- Geographical residence
- Not Considered
- State residency
- Not Considered
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Not Considered
- Volunteer work
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Level of applicant's interest
- Considered
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | ||||
| Rigor of secondary school record | ✓ | |||
| Class rank | ✓ | |||
| Academic GPA | ✓ | |||
| Standardized test scores | ✓ | |||
| Application essay | ✓ | |||
| Recommendation(s) | ✓ | |||
| Nonacademic | ||||
| Interview | ✓ | |||
| Extracurricular activities | ✓ | |||
| Talent/ability | ✓ | |||
| Character/personal qualities | ✓ | |||
| First generation | ✓ | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | ✓ | |||
| Geographical residence | ✓ | |||
| State residency | ✓ | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | ✓ | |||
| Volunteer work | ✓ | |||
| Work experience | ✓ | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | ✓ | |||