Howard University

Howard University is a private, nonprofit research university in Washington, DC, founded in 1867. As one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), it has educated generations of Black scholars and professionals while welcoming students from across the United States and around the world. Howard is a research-intensive institution, and its programs span undergraduate, graduate, professional and joint degrees. For a prospective student, the central questions are which school within the university fits their goals, how its specific costs and admission requirements work, and what support they can confirm before enrolling.

Programs: a large university organized by professional schools

Howard offers more than 120 degree programs through 14 schools and colleges. Broad choices include the College of Arts and Sciences; business; communications; education; engineering, architecture and computer science; law; medicine; dentistry; pharmacy; nursing and allied health sciences; social work; and divinity. The university also has a Graduate School and professional and joint-degree pathways. That breadth means the experience and requirements can vary considerably: students should compare curriculum, prerequisites, clinical or internship expectations, accreditation where relevant, and application dates at the school that awards their degree. Howard’s official academic overview links to its schools and program information.

Tuition, financial aid and scholarships

Howard’s 2026–27 charges are set by school and program, so there is no single tuition figure that accurately describes every student. Budget for tuition, required school-specific fees, housing and meals if living on campus, books, transportation and personal expenses. The university publishes an official 2026–27 student-charge schedule; use the rate for the particular school and enrollment level, then ask the Bursar or Financial Aid Office for an individual estimate and payment deadlines.

Available help can include federal and state grants, university scholarships, donor and departmental awards, employment and loans. Howard University Freshman Scholarships (HUFS) are merit-based awards for incoming first-time undergraduates; the university says a separate application is not required, though students must meet the annual eligibility criteria and accept an award by its deadline. The scholarship program lists several award levels, and eligibility may depend on academic records and, for need-based awards, the Student Aid Index. Donor and school-based awards have their own conditions. Complete the FAFSA each year to be considered for federal and state assistance and applicable university aid, and check Howard’s current scholarship and grant guidance. Do not assume an award is guaranteed until it appears in your written package.

Applying and planning a campus visit

First-year, transfer, graduate and professional applicants follow different processes, and deadlines are set by the relevant admissions office or school. First-year applicants use the Common Application and should review current transcript, testing and financial-aid requirements directly with Admissions. Programs such as medicine, law, dentistry and nursing have additional application steps. Ask early how transfer credits will be evaluated and whether a professional program requires a separate application.

Howard’s Office of Admission offers scheduled weekday tours and information sessions; daily tours are listed at selected times, typically 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and visitors must register because space is limited. Tour dates pause on weekends, university holidays and during some academic-calendar periods. The tour meeting point is the lobby of the Mordecai Johnson Administration Building, 2400 6th Street NW. The campus is open for self-guided visits, but a guided tour or admissions conversation should be arranged through the official campus-visit registration page. General public walk-in office hours were not clearly posted in the sources reviewed; contact the relevant office before traveling.

Locations and key contacts

• Main campus and central administration: 2400 Sixth Street NW, Washington, DC 20059; main number (202) 806-6100. The main campus includes the majority of the university’s schools and central services.
• School of Law and School of Divinity, West Campus: 2900 Van Ness Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; School of Law (202) 806-8000. This is a separate campus several miles from the central campus, so allow for travel between locations when arranging appointments.
• Howard University Hospital: 2041 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20060; (202) 865-6100. The hospital is a separate healthcare facility associated with Howard, not the university’s general admissions office.

Howard’s contact directory lists the main university and hospital addresses and office contacts. Confirm the destination with the school or department you need to visit: individual offices, clinics and academic units may be located elsewhere on campus.

Student experience and a recent enrollment issue to understand

Student-review themes show both a strong sense of belonging and practical frustrations. Reviewers often value the campus community, peer connections, faculty relationships and the cultural significance of attending an HBCU. Some also describe slow or confusing administrative processes involving financial aid, registration, housing and communication. These are individual accounts, not a prediction of any student’s experience, but they point to questions worth asking: who is your assigned contact, when will aid be finalized, what happens if an award changes, and how are housing and billing deadlines coordinated?

There was also a widely reported Fall 2026 enrollment disruption. Howard notified 502 incoming first-year students that their places were no longer being held after financial and enrollment deadlines; the university said students had outstanding balances and had received notices. Students and families described confusion about how aid, charges and payment expectations were reflected. The university acknowledged that timing differences may have occurred between financial aid posting and charges being finalized, and said cases could be reviewed individually. The Associated Press later reported that more than 200 students had been readmitted, while some remained concerned. This episode makes it especially important for incoming students to confirm their final bill, aid credit, payment plan, housing status and written enrollment confirmation with the responsible offices. Read the Associated Press follow-up for the reported outcome.

Howard’s size and breadth provide many academic and professional paths, but students often need to coordinate with a specific school as well as university-wide offices. Before committing, compare the exact degree plan and total cost, verify scholarship conditions in writing, map the locations relevant to your program, and save copies of communications about deadlines and account status. You can begin with the university’s admissions portal or request information from the school that offers your intended program.