Getting into Howard University is a dream for thousands of students every year. It’s the "Mecca," after all. But once the excitement of that acceptance letter fades, the reality of the bill starts to sink in. If you're wondering how much is howard university tuition, you aren't just looking for one number. You're looking for the truth about what it actually costs to live and breathe on that Hilltop in D.C.
Price tags are tricky. Howard, being a private HBCU, doesn't play by the same rules as your local state school. There’s no "in-state discount" here. Whether you’re coming from across the street in Northwest D.C. or flying in from Los Angeles, the base tuition stays the same.
The Numbers for 2025-2026: Breaking Down the Sticker Price
Let’s get straight to it. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the estimated undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at Howard University sit around $38,936.
Now, don't just look at that and think you're done. That’s just the cost of the classes. If you plan on actually sleeping and eating on campus, you have to add in room and board. For most students, housing adds roughly $12,380 and the meal plan tacks on another $6,602.
When you do the math, the "direct costs"—the stuff that shows up on your actual bill from the university—ends up being roughly $57,918 per year.
But wait. There's more. You’ve got to buy books, right? You need to get home for Thanksgiving. You probably want to go out for a Half-Smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl occasionally. These "indirect costs" are what usually catch families off guard.
- Books and Supplies: $1,220
- Transportation (Flights/Metro): $1,154
- Personal/Misc Expenses: $2,494
By the time you add all that up, the total "Cost of Attendance" (COA) is hovering around $62,786. Honestly, that's a massive number. It’s a lot of money, but it’s still often lower than other private schools with similar rankings in the D.C. area, like Georgetown or George Washington University.
Graduate Students Pay a Different Rate
If you’re heading to Howard for a Master’s or a PhD, the math changes. Graduate tuition is generally higher because the programs are more specialized. For the 2025-2026 cycle, traditional graduate program tuition and fees are estimated at $40,814.
However, Howard has some "premium" programs where the costs spike. If you’re in the Graduate Accounting or Finance programs, expect to pay closer to $46,157 in tuition alone. On the flip side, the School of Education is often a bit more affordable, with tuition sitting around $36,286.
It’s also worth noting the "per credit" rate if you’re going part-time. For undergrads, it’s about $1,584 per credit hour. For grad students, it’s a steep $2,149. Basically, if you can swing a full-time load, it’s almost always a better deal financially.
Why the Price Keeps Moving
You might have noticed that tuition isn't what it was five years ago. In 2015, tuition and fees were under $24,000. Now they're pushing $40k. Why?
The university is pretty transparent about it. They point to inflation—which has been a beast lately—and the need to recruit top-tier faculty. D.C. is an expensive city to live in, and that applies to the professors too. Plus, Howard is constantly upgrading its facilities. If you’ve walked through campus lately, you’ve seen the construction. Modern labs and renovated dorms aren't free.
🔗 Read more: Dow Jones Industrial Index Chart: Why Everyone Is Obsessing Over 50,000
The "Net Price" vs. The "Sticker Price"
Here is the secret: almost nobody actually pays the full $62,000.
Around 87% of Howard students receive some form of financial aid. Whether it’s grants, scholarships, or loans, that big number gets whittled down fast. On average, students receive about $21,995 in aid.
If you get that average package, your "net price" drops to roughly $36,037. Still a chunk of change, but much more manageable than the initial shock of the sticker price.
How to Get That Number Lower
- HUFS (Howard University Freshman Scholarships): These are the big ones. They are merit-based, meaning they look at your GPA and SAT/ACT scores. You don't even have to apply for them separately; the admissions office just checks your file when you apply.
- The Sibling Discount: This is a cool quirk Howard offers. If you have a sibling also enrolled full-time as an undergrad, you can get a 10% discount on tuition.
- The FAFSA: You have to do it. Every year. No excuses. It’s the only way to get federal grants (money you don't pay back) and work-study.
- External Scholarships: Don't just rely on Howard. There are tons of HBCU-specific scholarships from organizations like the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) or the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Living Off-Campus: A Money-Saving Myth?
A lot of juniors and seniors think they’ll save a fortune by moving out of the dorms and into an apartment in LeDroit Park or Columbia Heights.
Be careful.
D.C. rent is some of the highest in the country. While the university estimates off-campus housing and food at about $24,750, you might find that a shared apartment with three roommates still ends up costing more once you factor in utilities, groceries, and the "Commuter's Tax" of time and transportation.
If you do go off-campus, you’ll see your Howard bill drop significantly because the room and board charges disappear. But your monthly "real world" bills will skyrocket. It’s a trade-off.
Practical Next Steps for Families
If you're staring at these numbers and feeling a bit overwhelmed, take a breath. It's a process. Here is what you should do right now:
- Use the Net Price Calculator: Howard has an official one on their Student Financial Services website. Plug in your actual family income and tax data. It’ll give you a much more accurate estimate than a blog post ever could.
- Check the Deadlines: Missing the FAFSA priority deadline is the fastest way to lose out on "free" money. For the 2026-2027 cycle, mark March 1, 2026, as your hard deadline for priority processing.
- Review the "Official Notice of Student Charges": This document is released every year by the Office of the Bursar. It lists every single fee—from the $142 Health Service Fee to the $450 Graduation Fee. No surprises allowed.
- Apply for the ISFAA if you're International: If you aren't a U.S. citizen, the FAFSA doesn't apply to you, but the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) does. It’s how Howard determines your eligibility for institutional aid.
Howard is an investment. It’s expensive, yes, but the network and the culture are things you can't really put a price on. Just make sure you're going in with your eyes open to the actual math.