Chances of getting into Howard University
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Challenging | |
| Applicant Competition | High |
How hard is it to get into Howard and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Howard is 39%. It ranks #4 in District Of Columbia and #146 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Howard is a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Last year, 9,398 out of 24,325 applicants were admitted.
The school has challenging admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 36 percent (SAT 1130/1260 ACT 22/26). Howard University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.6. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 25% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The Howard application fee is $45 and applications are due by Feb 15.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. Howard University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
Howard SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 580 |
| SAT Math 25th | 550 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1130 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 640 |
| SAT Math 75th | 620 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1260 |
| Average SAT Score | 1200 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Howard University?
Howard University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 36 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1130 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1060. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1200 out of 1600. Howard ranks #4 in District Of Columbia for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 75 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1260 and Above | Good | >52% |
| 1195 to 1260 | Avg + | 39%-52% |
| 1130 to 1195 | Avg - | 27%-39% |
| 1065 to 1130 | Reach | 18%-27% |
| Less than 1065 | Low | <18% |
Howard ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 22 |
| ACT Math 25th | 20 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 22 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 28 |
| ACT Math 75th | 26 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 26 |
| Average ACT Score | 24 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Howard?
Admission data indicates that Howard regularly accepts students with ACT's of 22 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 37 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 20 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 24 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 26 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #4 in District Of Columbia for highest average ACT composite score. 42 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Howard University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 26 and Above | Good | >52% |
| 24 to 26 | Avg + | 39%-52% |
| 22 to 24 | Avg - | 27%-39% |
| 20 to 22 | Reach | 18%-27% |
| Less than 20 | Low | <18% |
Explore Howard University
Howard GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into Howard University?
Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into Howard. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Howard University was 3.6 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #4 in District Of Columbia for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Howard will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 7.1% | Good |
| 3.75 to 3.99 | 31.0% | Avg + |
| 3.50 to 3.74 | 29.3% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.49 | 19.2% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.24 | 12.1% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.99 | 1.2% | Reach |
| 2.00 to 2.49 | 0.1% | Low |
| 1.00 to 1.99 | 0% | Low |
| less than 1.00 | 0% | Low |
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
59% of Howard University freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 27% |
| Top 25% of class | 59% |
| Top 50% of class | 89% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 17,324 | 7,001 | 24,325 |
| Accepted | 6,643 | 2,755 | 9,398 |
| Acceptance Rate | 38% | 39% | 39% |
| Enrolled | 1,705 | 655 | 2,360 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 26% | 24% | 25% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Feb 15, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Howard University is $45.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Howard University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Considered but not required |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=131520 IPEDS survey data for Howard University.
FAQs
Does Howard University prefer SAT or ACT?
75% of students submit their SAT scores to Howard. 42% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Howard University?
39% of those who apply are granted admission to Howard. Admission competition is high and the college has challenging admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Howard University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1130 and 1260. 75% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Howard University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 22 and 26. 42% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.