Howard University
#4 Best HBCUs for Engineering- Graduation Rate
- 69% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,066 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $50,539 F
- 195% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 41% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 9.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $9.2 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best HBCUs for Engineering.
Every $1 spent returns $9.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,655,038.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 55% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 4.00% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $9.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #401-500
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 11/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Howard University Matters
Howard University is a private research university in Washington, DC ranked #401-500 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 10,108
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications, Social Sciences
Why students choose Howard University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 41% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1090–1320. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $50,539 a year after grants and scholarships — 195% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,066 ten years after enrolling — 55% above the typical college, against $24,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 4.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 4% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.62 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 10,000 students choose Howard University, a vibrant hub in Washington, DC, where 41% of applicants gain acceptance. This diverse community thrives in a supportive environment that emphasizes social justice and leadership, making it a compelling choice for many.
Graduates from Howard earn a median salary of $63,066 ten years after enrollment, demonstrating strong return on investment. While specific mobility metrics are unavailable, the presence of a significant Pell Grant rate at 40% suggests that Howard plays a vital role in serving students from low-income backgrounds, potentially aiding upward mobility.
The net price of attendance at Howard is $50,539, with graduates carrying a median debt of $24,500. Students who excel here often find their niche in fields like Business, Social Sciences, and Health Professions. The university attracts individuals who are passionate about making an impact and seeking a rich academic experience in a culturally vibrant setting.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Howard University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Howard University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Washington, District of Columbia, Howard University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,213. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Retention Rate
- 91%
- SAT Average
- 1213
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 1090–1320
- ACT Range
- 22–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 64%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,580
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 19,188
- Admitted
- 10,253
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Howard University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Howard University is $35,810, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $50,539. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $46,051 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $35,810
- Out-of-State
- $35,810
- Avg Net Price
- $50,539
- Median Debt
- $24,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 40%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 59%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $46,051
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $47,477
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $50,245
- Family Income $110K+
- $54,270
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Howard University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Howard University earn a median of $63,066, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,379
- 8 Years
- $54,819
- 10 Years
- $63,066
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (769)
- 52%
- 100% (769)
- 52%
- 100% (769)
- 52%
- 100% (769)
- 52%
How Howard Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Howard University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Howard University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $50,539/year ($202,156 total). Graduates earn $63,066 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,857,194 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,655,038 (9.2× your investment). The median debt is $24,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 69% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $202,156
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,857,194
- Net Return
- $1,655,038
- ROI Multiple
- 9.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $50,539
- Median Debt
- $24,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 69%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Howard University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Howard University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 4.00%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 4.00%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 37.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $76,900
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 11/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 45/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-19,192,000
Top Programs
The fields Howard University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 16%
- Health Professions 13%
- Communications 12%
- Social Sciences 11%
- Biology & Biomedical 10%
- Psychology 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- Engineering 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Howard University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Howard University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Washington, District of Columbia, Howard University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,213. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Howard University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Howard University is $35,810, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $50,539. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $46,051 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,500 in federal student loans.
Is Howard University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Howard University earn a median of $63,066, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Howard University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Howard University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 4.00%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Howard University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Howard University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Howard University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Howard University at #401-500 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 11/100, teaching at 39/100, and citation impact of 45/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Howard University.
- The University of TampaTampa, FL · Close peer63% grad $59,436 earn 40% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Close peer79% grad $78,349 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Close peer88% grad $63,268 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings
- Baylor UniversityWaco, TX · Close peer80% grad $65,793 earn 51% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX · Close peer86% grad $68,424 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Emerson CollegeBoston, MA · Close peer78% grad $62,832 earn 51% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Howard University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Howard University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note