Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Washington, District of Columbia
34.9% Acceptance Rate
Howard University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
34.9%Acceptance Rate
3.66Avg GPA
1205Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$51,450Annual Cost
$63,066Grad Salary
40.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
34.9%
Avg GPA
3.66
Avg SAT
1205
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1100–1298
ACT Middle 50%
22–28
Need-Based Aid
40.5% receive Pell
Howard University, founded in 1867 in Washington D.C., is a prestigious private historically black research university. The 256-acre campus offers comprehensive programs through 13 schools and colleges, with particular strengths in health sciences, law, and African-American studies. Howard is classified as an R2 research university and maintains a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Campus landmarks include the Founders Library and the new Interdisciplinary Research Building. Howard's athletic teams, the Bison, compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Howard takes pride in its legacy of educating African-American leaders and its commitment to truth and service. The university's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center houses one of the world's largest collections of African-American historical materials. Recent additions include the new STEM-focused Innovation Hub and renovated residence halls. Howard's combination of academic excellence, cultural significance, and Washington D.C. location makes it a cornerstone of higher education for the African diaspora.
Howard University Acceptance Rate
Howard University is selective but reasonable. About 34.9% of applicants (35 per 100) are admitted each cycle.
What HU Admissions Looks For
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 34.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.21
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Howard University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Howard University is February 15 for Regular Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by April 1.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 190 days left — Regular Decision
Regular Decision
February 15
Decision by: April 1
Regular Decision
February 15
Decision by: April 1
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: January 15
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
HU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at HU is 3.66. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.36 and 3.66? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.86–4.06.HU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.26 – 3.45
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.25
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Two optional essays (500 words each): a diversity/lived-experience essay and a major-fit essay covering both first- and second-choice majors; BS/MD and BS/DDS applicants must also submit a required program-specific essay.
- Acceptance rate is approximately 41% for the most recent cycle, though older sources cite figures as low as 35% - confirm against Howard's current Common Data Set before quoting a number.
- Regular decision deadline is February 1; Howard does not require the SAT/ACT writing/essay section and does not superscore the ACT.
- Two letters of recommendation required, with a counselor letter highly preferred; an optional creative-portfolio submission (essay or audiovisual, up to 5 minutes) is available for students who want to showcase creative work.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at HU
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Howard University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Howard University (HU) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if HU is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into HU Without SAT or ACT?
HU considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Howard University Average SAT Score: 1205
The average SAT score of admitted students at Howard University is 1205 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1205 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1298 SAT or 28 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Howard University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1100, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at HU. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 589 | 540 | 638 |
| SAT Reading | 610 | 560 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1205 | 1100 | 1298 |
Below 1100, you're behind most admitted students; at 1298 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Howard University (HU) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of HU's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Howard University (HU) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at HU is 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 21 | 26 |
| ACT English | 27 | 23 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 22 | 28 |
Can I get into Howard University with a 28 ACT?
A 28 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of HU's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at HU.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for HU
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
At HU, admissions looks for reliable, high-achieving students. The goal is to land as a top-tier applicant. That's what triggers both admission and the best merit aid.
Use the diversity prompt to go beyond identity-as-checkbox, especially post-affirmative action
Howard's optional diversity essay (500 words) asks how a student's background or lived experience would contribute to the classroom and campus community - written for an HBCU context where many applicants share aspects of racial identity, so counselors should help students find a more specific, less commonly-told angle (a hobby, a regional culture, a family structure, a skill) rather than defaulting to a generic "being Black in America" framing that will read as interchangeable with thousands of other files.
Treat the "why this major" essay as a two-part answer, not one
Howard's second optional prompt (500 words) explicitly asks students to address both their first-choice and second-choice major, and how a Howard education supports their goals in each. Many students only answer for their first choice - push students to genuinely research and write about the second-choice major too, since skipping it leaves the prompt only half-answered.
For BS/MD and BS/DDS applicants, flag the mandatory additional essay early
Unlike Howard's two general optional essays, applicants to the combined BS/MD or BS/DDS programs must submit an additional required essay specific to that program via the Common App Writing section. Build this into the application timeline for any pre-health student aiming for Howard's direct-entry medical or dental tracks, since it's easy to miss if a student only sees the general optional prompts.
Point STEM- and arts-interested students toward Howard's specific strengths, not generic HBCU framing
Howard produces more minority doctoral graduates in computer science than any other US university and offers a creative-portfolio submission option (a 400-word essay on a creative activity, or audiovisual work up to five minutes) for students wanting to showcase work outside the standard essay format. Counselors should mention these concrete, specific details rather than leaning on Howard's general HBCU reputation when building a "why Howard" case.
Expert Insight:
A recurring failure pattern: students treat Howard's two essays as fully optional and skip both, not realizing that in a roughly 41% acceptance pool with median SAT/ACT scores well below many peer research universities (around 1210 SAT / 25 ACT), the essays are often where strong-but-not-top-statistically applicants differentiate themselves. Encourage students to submit both unless time genuinely doesn't allow it.
HU Profile
Full Name
Howard University (HU)
City
Washington
State
District of Columbia
ZIP Code
20059
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a HU Degree Worth It?
At $51,450/year against a $63,066 median graduate salary, HU is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $66,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.43%.
How much does a degree from HU Cost?
The sticker price is $51,450/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
40.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 57.1% take federal loans at HU. File your FAFSA early and list HU as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a HU Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $63,066. That's about 55% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Howard University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Howard University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Howard University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at HU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About HU Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Howard University run about $63,066 a year.
At about $51,450 a year, Howard University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 40.5% receive a Pell Grant at Howard University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 34.9%, Howard University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Howard University average a 3.66 GPA.
Howard University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.36 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.26, Howard University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Howard University — aim above 1205, ideally within the 1100–1298 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Howard University is February 15 for Regular Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by April 1.
The application fee is 45. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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