Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $54,630. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $35,810 |
| Housing & meals | $16,474 |
| Books & supplies | $1,360 |
| Personal & travel | $3,452 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$2,466 |
| Total cost of attendance | $54,630 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
HU net price compared with other District of Columbia colleges
HU has the 8th-lowest average net price of 8 District of Columbia colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trinity Washington University | $9,302 | 49% | $53,804 |
| 2 | University of the District of Columbia | $10,648 | 33% | $44,236 |
| 3 | Gallaudet University | $15,845 | 47% | $43,101 |
| 4 | The Catholic University of America | $29,561 | 79% | $73,250 |
| 5 | George Washington University | $36,586 | 84% | $90,873 |
| 6 | Georgetown University | $40,815 | 95% | $103,494 |
| 7 | American University | $41,943 | 75% | $77,370 |
| 8 | Howard University | $50,539 | 70% | $63,066 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All District of Columbia colleges →
Why HU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard University | 41% | $50,539 | 70% | $63,066 | This school |
| George Washington University | 47% | $36,586 | 84% | $90,873 | |
| American University | 62% | $41,943 | 75% | $77,370 | |
| Georgetown University | 13% | $40,815 | 95% | $103,494 | |
| Gallaudet University | 58% | $15,845 | 47% | $43,101 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Howard University would cost you $13,953 more per year than George Washington University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Howard University, mostly from lower tuition & fees (−$31,900).
- George Washington University gives aided families $43,179 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, District of Columbia resident | HU | GWU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $35,810 | $67,710 | −$31,900 |
| Books & supplies | $1,360 | $1,400 | −$40 |
| Housing & meals | $16,474 | $16,300 | +$174 |
| Personal & travel | $3,452 | $1,625 | +$1,827 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$2,466 | −$3,179 | +$713 |
| Sticker price | $54,630 | $83,856 | −$29,226 |
| Average grants | −$4,091 | −$47,270 | +$43,179 |
| You pay | $50,539 | $36,586 | +$13,953 |
“+” means HU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
HU cost questions
How much is tuition at HU?
Tuition and fees are $35,810 a year.
What is the total cost of attending HU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $54,630 a year.
What do families actually pay at HU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $50,539 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $46,051; $48–75k pay $50,245; $110k+ pay $54,270.
How much debt do HU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $19,200, and 6.0% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Howard University overview