More selective than 83% of District of Columbia colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
27% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 10% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose HU over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
HU SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, HU is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 560 | 670 |
| SAT math | 530 | 650 |
| ACT composite | 22 | 28 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1090 | 1320 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
HU admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 41% | 560–670 | 530–650 | 22–28 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 35% | 560–660 | 540–638 | 22–28 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is HU compared with other District of Columbia colleges?
HU has the 2nd-lowest acceptance rate of 7 District of Columbia colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | 13% | 95% | $40,815 |
| 2 | Howard University | 41% | 70% | $50,539 |
| 3 | George Washington University | 47% | 84% | $36,586 |
| 4 | Gallaudet University | 58% | 47% | $15,845 |
| 5 | American University | 62% | 75% | $41,943 |
| 6 | The Catholic University of America | 83% | 79% | $29,561 |
| 7 | Trinity Washington University | 100% | 49% | $9,302 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All District of Columbia colleges →
Who enrolls at HU
College Scorecard; IPEDS
HU admissions questions
What is the HU acceptance rate?
Howard University accepts 41% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 10,587 of 30,342 applicants were admitted.
Does HU require the SAT or ACT?
Howard University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 27% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 10% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for HU?
The middle 50% of Howard University enrolled first-year students scored 1090–1320 on the SAT and 22–28 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at HU?
21% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (2,268 of 10,587).
Is HU getting harder to get into?
Howard University accepted 41% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 35% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Howard University overview