Howard University Admissions 2025: Process, Requirements & Deadlines

Howard University is a private academic institution with 14 schools and colleges established in 1867. The University is also known as Howard or simply HU. It is a historically black research-intensive university in Washington, D.C.

Undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees are pursued through 143 different academic programs. HU operates with a mission to excellence in Truth and Service. Compared to other American universities, Howard also produces the most African Americans who get Ph. D.s on campus. Students at Howard can join one of the school's many student groups, including fraternities, sororities, and intellectual clubs.

Howard has conferred more than 130,000 degrees in the humanities, sciences, and arts to date. The famed U Street and Howard Theatre are just blocks away from the main campus's hilltop location in Northwest Washington.

University Rankings

Schools and universities are ranked based on performance across widely regarded excellence factors.

In Washington, D.C., Howard University is one of the best private universities. According to the QS World University Rankings 2023, it is ranked #751–800.

National Universities ranks Howard University at #89 in the 2022–2023 editions of Best Colleges and #21 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.

Acceptance Rate (General)

The acceptance rate of a university is based on the proportion of chosen candidates, which the University calculated by dividing the total number of applicants by the pool of chosen applicants. For instance, if College X only accepted 10,000 of the 100,000 applications it received, its acceptance rate would be 10%.

Howard University’s acceptance rate is 39%, as university admission is more selective. HU accepts students with average SAT scores of 1130 to 1260 or average ACT scores of 22 to 26. However, even if you meet all other admissions requirements, you will only have a good chance of getting into the school if your GPA or SAT/ACT scores are high.

Howard is an exceptionally competitive school due to its low acceptance rate.

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate

Howard University doesn't publish any details on its specific undergraduate acceptance rate, which could be a factor in the institution's unusually low acceptance rate. However, the university's standard acceptance rate is 39%.

Postgraduate Acceptance Rate

Through an extremely stringent admissions process, the university supports academic excellence. Accepted students have high levels of personal desire and a history of steady academic improvement and success.

The acceptance rate for master's degrees is 53.8%, while that for PhDs is 74.5%.

Admission Eligibility Criteria

A student's GPA is a highly significant academic consideration for Howard University admissions officers. Howard admissions officers place a lot of weight on an applicant's high school class rank, if one is available, and letters of recommendation.

The entrance requirements to Howard University are high. Applicants need to know all the information about Howard University's admission criteria.

• For undergraduate admissions – Academic records for grades nine through twelve.
• All academic transcripts from institutions of higher learning outside the United States must be assessed by a NACES member, together with their English translations.
•  For graduate admissions – Academic records from each college or university attended are translated into English and verified by a certified evaluation authority.
• You must demonstrate language proficiency in English for both undergraduate and graduate admissions.
• You must provide SAT or ACT results along with your GPA.

 Documents Required

The following documents must be submitted with every candidate's application. The submission of the records will mark the application as complete.

• Admission requires the submission of an official high school transcript via Common App, Naviance, Parchment, or SCOIR (highly recommended) by your counselor or another certified school official.
• Submitting mid-year reports to be admitted is not necessary, although you can if they are available.
• It is necessary to submit two letters of recommendation via Common App/Naviance, one from each of your high school counselors and teacher.
• Students must include the main Common Application essay in their application. You must submit all essays with the Common Application by the deadline.
• Application fee of $45.

Howard University has standards for graduate admission that are particular to each department. To be considered for admission, applicants must submit a comprehensive application with all necessary supporting documentation. The finest opportunity for students to secure is to enroll at Howard University.

Tests Required/Average Scores

Howard University’s admission requirement, along with the documents mentioned above, is the tests with an average score mentioned below. The University requires SAT, ACT, IELTS, TOEFL (paper), and TOEFL (internet-based).

• At Howard University, the average GPA is 3.66.
• It would be best if you were in the middle of your high school class, with a GPA of 3.66, to apply to Howard. A mixture of A and B grades is required, with relatively few C grades.
• You'll need a better SAT or ACT score to make up for a GPA at or below the 3.66 school average. This will give you a competitive advantage over applicants with higher GPAs.
• You must take the SAT or ACT to apply to Howard University.
• The average composite SAT score at Howard University is 1184 out of 1600.
• Your application will get rejected if your ACT score is too low. At HU, the typical ACT composite score is 24.
• International students must certify their English language proficiency. The minimum score for TOEFL (paper) is 550, TOEFL (internet-based) is 90, and IELTS is 6.5.

Popular Courses

Howard University has nationally rated programs in social work, business, and communication sciences and disorders. It also generates more minority Ph.D. graduates in computer science than any other university in the country. The Washington Post referred to Howard as "An Incubator for Cinematographers" in 2013. Here are some of the popular courses offered by HU:

• Biology/Biological Sciences, General
• Political Science and Government, General
• Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
• Psychology, General
• Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
• Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
• Computer Science
• Marketing, Other
• Management Information Systems, General 
• Finance, General

How University Evaluates Applicants

Admissions committee members at Howard University look for a strong personal drive and history of steady academic improvement and success. The university invites socially and economically underprivileged applicants who show the potential to benefit from a Howard University education to submit their applications.

Evaluations of test results, recommendation letters, and academic records are used to determine admission. Every application is assessed individually. Students get evaluated according to how well-prepared they are for graduate school as well as for admittance into the general practices of their chosen discipline. Each course has a different evaluation process. The following performance categories are used to evaluate each student's success in the course:

• Homework Assignments
• Tests and Quizzes
• Assignments
• Project Reports

Tips for Applying To University

When choosing the first-year class, Howard University admissions will make sure that they uphold the university's standards.

One of the most important requirements for admission to Howard is academic success. HU admissions officers will consider an applicant's GPA, class rank, and SAT results (if submitted). You should submit your SAT or ACT scores if you fulfill or surpass the requirements of Howard University. If not, don't take a chance, as it might harm your chances of getting accepted. The averages SAT, and ACT scores for Howard University applicants are 1184 and 24, respectively.

In addition to academics, Howard University admissions officers consider letters of recommendation and student essays to determine whether you'll fit in. The best way to get into Howard University is to ace the Common Application, outperform the standard SAT and GPA requirements, and submit all additional Howard University eligibility requirements. The above pointers will help you understand how to get admission to Howard University and ace it.

Application Deadlines

Here are the important deadlines for submitting your application:

Early Action

• Application Deadline – November 1
• Document Deadline – November 15
• Notification Date – Late January

Early Decision

•  Application Deadline – November 1
• Document Deadline – November 15
•  Notification Date – Late January

Theatre Arts

• Application Deadline – November 15
• Document Deadline – November 15
• Notification Date – Late January

Regular Decision

• Application Deadline – February 15
• Document Deadline – March 1
• Notification Date – Early April

Acceptance Rate of Top University