Howard University
What Howard University's own numbers say, from its Common Data Set 2025-26.
See your odds at Howard University →All 2 insights at Howard University PRO
Who says yesHoward University
84% of students admitted to Howard University go elsewhere.
Only 16% of admits enroll, so Howard University admits far more students than it has seats.
Enroll16%
Go elsewhere84%
Source: Howard University's Common Data Set 2025-26
ApplicationsHoward University
Applications to Howard University are up 78%.
From 20,946 in 2018-19 to 37,270 in 2025-26.
2018-1920,946
2025-2637,270
Source: Howard University's Common Data Set 2025-26
5 more things the data says PRO
- Early Decision filled about 15% of the 2025-26 first-year class, less than most similar colleges.
- The share of women in the first-year class has risen from 71% to 75% since 2018-19, about 0.4 points a year.
- ED applicants were admitted at 84%, against 41.7% for everyone else: 2.0 times the rate.
- Applications rose 78% from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (20,946 to 37,270), faster than 87% of colleges here.
- After ED, 2,127 of 2,490 seats were left for 36,840 other applicants: about one seat for every 17.
What students say PRO
From students' own posts on Reddit and admissions forums: self-reported, unverified, never used in your odds.
- Most admits who named a round (20 of 24) applied Early Action, with SAT scores from 1230 to 1540 or ACT 24 to 34, and GPAs mostly 3.7 to 4.0.
- Many admits had health, science or environmental research, like lab internships, published papers, clinic research, or award-winning symposium work.
- Many held top student leader roles, like student body president, club founder or president, or honor society and diversity club leader.
- Many added real-world internships or jobs, such as investment bank, court, law firm, government, legislature or Senate internships, plus part-time work.
- Many were varsity athletes or captains, including tennis, track, soccer, basketball and speech teams, and some did sports while working or volunteering.
- Students report incoming freshmen were unenrolled over unpaid balances before financial aid or outside scholarships had posted.
- Families describe poor communication from admissions, financial aid and the bursar, including conflicting deadlines, unexplained billing and a missing I-20 for an international admit.
- Students report merit scholarships or work-study awards were removed or cancelled after the initial offer, with little explanation.
- Students mention scholarship programs like H3SP (75% to 100% of tuition) and Karsh STEM Scholars, which invites only those already admitted.
Every number, year by year: Howard University on Open College Data. Something wrong? Suggest a correction.