Howard University

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Quick Stats
2400 Sixth Street NW

Washington, DC 20059

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Phone: (202) 806-6100
2011-2012 Tuition
$19,741
tuition and fees
Students
7,147
enrolled
33%
male /
67%
female
Admissions
Feb. 15
application deadline
54.5%
accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#115 National Universities

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Summary

Howard University is a private institution that was founded in 1867. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,147, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 258 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Howard University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 115. Its tuition and fees are $19,741 (2011-12).

At Howard University, a historically black college in the heart of Washington, D.C., all students complete a university-wide core curriculum. Required courses include English composition and an Afro-American studies course, at the least. Students then have more than 80 majors to choose from, including Afro-American Studies, Greek, and Music Therapy. Outside of class, Howard students may choose to get involved in one of the school’s many fraternities and sororities, academic and professional organizations, or social clubs, among other student groups. The university has its own stop on the city’s public transportation system, the Metro, and students are also permitted to bring cars to school. (Freshmen, however, are not eligible for campus parking.) The school offers a range of male, female, and coed housing, both on and off campus, though no student is required to apply for university housing.

Howard University has many graduate programs as well, including a School of Business, a School of Law, a College of Medicine, and a College of Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Sciences. Notable alumni of Howard University include former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, and Emmy Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad.

School mission (as provided by the school):

Howard University's mission is unique. It is a culturally diverse, comprehensive, research intensive and historically Black private university providing an educational experience of exceptional quality at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels to students of high academic standing and potential, with particular emphasis upon educational opportunities for Black students. Moreover, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching, research and service, committed to the development of distinguished, historically aware, and compassionate graduates and to the discovery of solutions to human problems in the United States and throughout the world. With an abiding interest in both domestic and international affairs, the University is committed to continuing to produce leaders for America and the global community.
Howard's faculty members represent a microcosm of the world population of scholars. They comprise the world's most concentrated number of black scholars and a rapidly increasing number of scholars from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America. Howard's students come from all over the nation and more than 100 countries. The resulting campus and classroom atmosphere is a fascinating blend of cultures, customs, and languages said to be unequalled on any other college campus in the world.

General Information

School type private, coed college
Year founded 1867
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting urban
2010 Endowment $399,678,000

Applying

When applying to Howard University, it's important to note the application deadline is February 15, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due May 31. The application fee at Howard University is $45. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 54.5 percent and an early acceptance rate of 66.6 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 54%
Application deadline February 15
SAT/ACT scores must be received by May 31

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Academic Life

Howard University has 60.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Howard University include: Biology, General; Journalism; Psychology, General; Radio, Television, and Digital Communication; and Political Science and Government, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 84.0 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio N/A
4-year graduation rate N/A
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Biology, General 11%
Journalism 9%
Psychology, General 7%
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication 7%
Political Science and Government, General 6%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Howard University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,147, with a gender distribution of 33.0 percent male students and 67.0 percent female students. Howard University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Howard University.

Total enrollment 10,594
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity N/A
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority N/A
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

Howard University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Howard University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Howard University, 15 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Howard University.

Students who have cars on campus 15% - Low
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer No

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees $19,741 (2011-12)
Room and board $15,341 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics N/A

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Student Reviews

The best thing about Howard is the student body. Howard has a very diverse student body. Washington, DC has a lot to do with that, seeing as though it to has a very diverse population. You'll meet students from a wide variety of countries, cultures, upbringings, and beliefs. Howard is also known for its "recreational" activities. Howard's homecoming is legendary and largely attended by more than just locals and alumnae. Celebrities often make it a point to be present at the homecoming events. However Howard has its issues. One of my major issues with Howard is their inconsistency when it comes to procedure and policy. It is common for you to receive several contradicting suggestions or comments with the same department. Many of the administrative offices will send you on a treasure hunt to complete simple tasks like receiving your financial aid refund, paying your Howard balance, applying for emergency loans, etc. It can be quite annoying and discouraging. Howard is also known for losing do***ents after a crucial deadline has passed, forcing you to have to resubmit your information "late." Because of these issues, I have learned to make copies of everything I give Howard; I take down the names of every individual I speak to and the date I spoke to that person as well; I am also forced to harass them with phone calls to assure that any do***ents requested of me have been received, processed, and logged into my personal account. Howard teaches how to be cautious and meticulous. These are amongst the most complaints I hear on a daily basis at Howard. Another issue the students have is the subpar conditions a lot of our facilities are in. We are currently renovating several buildings but it makes no sense for the majority of the main campus to have so many physical problems. Some buildings lack functioning heaters and air conditioners; some don't have enough desks. The dorms also could use a lot of remodeling. Some dorms are older than others and lack amenities like air conditioning; even some of the newer dorms are infested with roaches and sometimes mice, one of our dorms have extremely sensitive sprinklers which causes problems, and our freshman dorms have smoke detectors with the nose of Superman and are guaranteed to go off and force us all outside at no specific time at least once every two weeks. The food is overprocessed and served on sometimes dirty dishes that I am forced to sift through for the least dirty of them all to then rinse under the hot water spout supposed to be used for tea. I could go on and on about my issues with Howard's campus, dormitories, and lack of fresh foods. With all that said however, Howard offers you an experience second to none. I used to consider my feelings about Howard similar to those of a woman unable to leave an abusive relationship; he hits me but I love him and I know he loves me. I was wrong. My relationship with Howard has been most similar to that of a family. There is this unconditional love between me and Howard. We will always fight and we will constantly fail to see eye to eye. But I would never trade my family for anything in the world. Howard is one of a kind. Not only will you have the time of your life enjoying the new friends you make from places you've never been or even heard of; you will also be bombarded with opportunities to advance in any field you may be interested; and most importantly you will become a part of as expanding network of the best and brightest of America. Howard is not for the weak, or the unsure, it is for the determined and motivated who will contribute to its rich legacy. The Real HU!! Bison for life. Ms. Wright

Ms Wright Senior

New Orleans HomeGrown Junior

The best thing about Howard is its legacy. And even though many people say that it's true because after you graduate with a degree from Howard u would need to find a job, a job will find you -granted that you had good grades and all that. One thing that I would change about Howard the administration. Many things about it is rly bad and hopefully with an incoming new president, things will get better. The size is just right. The way people react when I tell them I go to Howard depends on where that person comes from. Usually, if they're from the area they are very familiar with Howard and therefore arent very impressed, but if I tell someone is from farther away or is just ignorant to all of Howard secrets, they are very excited. On campus, I spend most of my time in my room. There is definately no "college town" around Howard. But a few businesses that share the same street with our university give discounts to us, or just simply have a Howard flag or something. Howard admin sucks. Well there was a protest to shut down the engineering builing. DEFINATELY!!! Howard's school pride is infectious. One thing that's unsual is the extreamly poor condition of some of the buildings. The biology building for examaple has electric wires and all sorts of dangerous things hanging from the ceiling and class still goes on in there. I think thats very unusual for a college campus. I mean we pay tuition to fix these sort of things. Also, Howard is kind of like a cult. The jazz fest. It was amazing. The adminsitration, the food sucks, the "locals"

Patience Freshman

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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