Howard University Admission Requirements for International Students 2027: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, Scholarships and Deadlines

Howard University admission requirements for international students are short and clear: you apply through the Common App, send a school transcript with a NACES credential evaluation, two recommendations (one counselor, one teacher), the main Common App essay, a $45 fee and, if English is not your first language, a TOEFL iBT of 90 or an IELTS of 6.5. SAT and ACT scores are optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Howard’s acceptance rate was 35% in the most recent class profile it publishes, and the estimated cost for 2026-27 is $64,926 a year before any loan fees.

Money is the harder part. Howard gives international students merit scholarships only, and it does not publish the amounts. For fall 2027 entry, the Early Action and Early Decision deadline is 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision closes on 1 February 2027. Everything below was checked on Howard’s admission, financial services and graduate school pages on 29 October 2026.

Howard University ranking and key numbers

U.S. News published its 2027 Best Colleges edition in September 2026. Howard reached its highest position ever in that edition, up from No. 88 the year before.

Howard’s own fact sheet (October 2025) lists more than 14,500 students, 14 schools and colleges, more than 120 programmes of study, a 13:1 student to faculty ratio and students from 61 countries. The six-year graduation rate rose from 70% to 74%, according to Howard’s report on the 2027 rankings.

Howard University acceptance rate and class profile

Howard’s admission profile page reports 29,391 applications and 10,362 acceptances, which is an acceptance rate of 35%. Howard labels this profile as its Class of 2025. Admitted students in that class had a mean unweighted GPA of 3.66, an average SAT of 1184 and an average ACT of 24, and came from 26 countries. Howard says these figures are not minimum requirements.

Applications have grown fast since then. Howard Magazine reported a record 36,393 applications for fall 2024, up 79% since fall 2022, and about 2,796 new students that autumn. Howard did not publish the number admitted from that pool. The last Common Data Set Howard has posted is the 2022-23 edition, and it does not give total admit figures, so there is no official, more recent acceptance rate. College Data, using 2024-25 federal data, shows about 42% of 37,270 applicants admitted; treat that as a third-party estimate.

Howard’s 2022-23 Common Data Set lists the factors it treats as very important: rigour of your school record, academic GPA, character and personal qualities, and advanced or honours courses. Essay, recommendations and leadership are rated important. Interviews are not considered.

Howard University tuition for international students (2026-27)

Howard charges the same tuition to international and US students. The 2026-2027 estimated cost of attendance for an undergraduate living on campus is below. The total excludes two loan fees ($76 and $1,180) that apply only to families who borrow through US federal loans, which international students cannot use.

That is lower than many private universities in this series. Compare it with MIT’s $92,760 for 2026-27. Howard’s lower sticker price matters because, as the next section shows, Howard does not promise to meet an international student’s full financial need.

Howard University scholarships for international students

Howard’s support for international undergraduates is merit-based. There is no need-blind promise and no commitment to meet full need for students from abroad. Here is what Howard’s own pages say:

• All admitted first-year students are considered for merit scholarships. There is no separate scholarship application.
• International students must submit the HU ISFAA (Howard’s version of the International Student Financial Aid Application) by the admission deadline for priority consideration.
• Howard’s freshman scholarship names are the Presidential, Achievers, Founders, Capstone, Leadership, Opportunity and Access scholarships. A student can hold only one.
• Merit awards are based on high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores. Students who apply test-optional stay eligible.
• Awards renew for up to eight consecutive semesters if you meet the credit and GPA terms in your award contract.
• Early Action and Early Decision admits who qualify receive scholarship offers with their decision in late December.
• Funding is subject to availability, and Howard does not publish amounts for any of these awards.

Howard’s 2022-23 Common Data Set marks ability to pay as not considered in admission. That is the closest thing to a published aid policy for internationals, but it is not a promise of funding. You will need family money, a sponsor or outside scholarships for whatever Howard’s award leaves uncovered. Our list of American scholarships for international students is a good place to look for outside funding.

Howard University admission requirements for international students

Howard accepts first-year applications only through the Common App. Spring entry is no longer offered to first-year international applicants, so you can start only in the autumn.

1. Common App and fee: the $45 fee is paid in the Common App. Howard does not issue its own waivers but accepts the Common App fee waiver if your counselor submits the affirmation.
2. Transcripts: certified records for grades 9 to 12 (or 13), sent by your counselor through the Common App or by post. Email copies are not accepted.
3. National exams and predicted grades: Howard accepts results such as IB, GCE/GCSE and WASSCE where they apply.
4. Credential evaluation: required if you did not study in a system Howard lists on its credentials page or in the US or Canada. It must come from a NACES member (ECE, IEE, WES or SpanTran preferred), include a US-equivalent GPA, and cannot be waived.
5. Two recommendations: one from your counselor and one from a teacher, uploaded by them through the Common App or Naviance.
6. Essays: the main Common App essay is required; the Howard essay is optional; BS/MD and BS/DDS applicants write an extra programme essay.
7. Portfolio or audition: required for studio art, theatre, music and architecture applicants.
8. HU ISFAA: submit by your application deadline if you want scholarship priority.

Testing policy

SAT and ACT scores are not required for the 2026-27 cycle, and Howard says students who do not submit will not be disadvantaged. The exception is the joint degree programmes (BS/MD, BS/DDS and BA/JD), which still expect scores. If you send scores, they must come officially from the testing agency (SAT code 5297, ACT code 0674). October is the last test date Howard considers for Early Action and Early Decision, and December for Regular Decision. Because merit awards use test scores, a strong SAT can still help you financially.

English requirements

You are exempt if you are a citizen of a country where English is an official language, if you studied in the US for at least four years, or if your secondary school taught in English and your counselor uploads a letter from an administrator confirming it. Students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and other countries where English is official can usually rely on the first exemption.

Howard University deadlines for fall 2027

Howard’s pages give the dates without a year; the years above follow the 2026-27 cycle the testing rules refer to. Early Action is the better choice for most international applicants: it is not binding, and qualifying admits get their scholarship offer in December, months before the 1 May deposit date. Choose Early Decision only if you can pay the full cost without knowing your award.

How to write the Howard essays

Howard requires only the main Common App personal statement. The optional Howard essay sits in the Writing section of the Common App, and third-party guides for 2026-27 describe prompts about a lived experience that shaped your perspective and about your intended major and how you plan to use a Howard education. Read the exact wording in the Common App before you write.

• Write the optional essay. It is the only place in the file where you speak to Howard directly.
• Name the major and one or two concrete things at Howard that connect to it, such as a course, a research centre, or the university’s location in the capital.
• Show what you have already done in that field. A school project, a job or a club you started says more than general praise for HBCUs.
• Keep the personal statement and the Howard essay on different stories so the reader learns two things about you.

A short sample opening, for illustration only:

“The first time I saw my mother’s pharmacy run out of insulin, I counted the people we sent away: eleven in one afternoon. That count is why I want to study pharmaceutical sciences at Howard, and why I want to understand supply chains as much as chemistry.”

What happens after you apply

1. Portal and checklist: Howard emails portal access. Check it for missing items such as the evaluation or recommendations.
2. Decision: late December for Early Action and Early Decision, early April for Regular Decision.
3. Scholarship offer: qualifying EA and ED admits receive it with the decision. You accept the terms on the Bison Hub portal and sign the HUFS acceptance agreement by the stated date.
4. Deposit: by 1 May 2027 (Early Decision admits must withdraw other applications).
5. Proof of funds and I-20: submit financial documents so Howard can issue the I-20 you need for the F-1 visa interview.
6. Visa: pay the SEVIS fee, book the US embassy interview and arrive for orientation in August.

Common mistakes international applicants make

• Sending the transcript straight to Howard instead of to the evaluation agency. Non-US transcripts must go from your school to the NACES evaluator.
• Choosing an evaluator late. A WES or ECE course-by-course report can take weeks, and it is due by the application deadline.
• Taking the Duolingo test. Howard lists only TOEFL and IELTS for applicants who need a test.
• Skipping the HU ISFAA because Howard has no need-based promise. The form is still needed for priority scholarship review.
• Emailing essays or recommendations. Howard rejects documents sent by email.
• Expecting spring entry. First-year international applicants can only start in autumn.

Costs a Howard scholarship will not cover

• Flights to Washington and home each year.
• The F-1 visa application fee and the SEVIS fee.
• Health insurance if your plan does not meet Howard’s requirements.
• Winter clothing, bedding and setup costs in the first month.
• Housing over breaks if you cannot travel home.
• Credential evaluation fees, TOEFL or IELTS fees and the $45 application fee.

Howard University graduate admissions for international students

Graduate applicants apply to Howard’s Graduate School, not through the Common App. The Graduate School asks for a TOEFL iBT of 90, or IELTS 6.5 if TOEFL is not available in your country; a US degree waives the test. A NACES credential evaluation of every non-US transcript is required, the application fee is $75, and the I-20 is issued only after admission, payment of the enrolment fee and a financial statement. Deadlines are 1 March for fall, 1 August for spring and 1 February for summer. Housing is not guaranteed for international graduate students. Funding varies by programme, so check the Graduate School funding page for your department.

Majors and campus life at Howard

Howard offers 49 bachelor’s programmes across its schools and colleges. U.S. News ranks its undergraduate business programme No. 83 and engineering No. 102 in the 2027 edition, and Howard is known for journalism and communications, the sciences that lead to medicine and dentistry, political science and economics. The joint BS/MD and BS/DDS tracks are very competitive and require test scores.

The main campus is at 2400 6th Street NW in Washington, D.C., with more sites in Maryland. Being in the capital means internships in government, international organisations, think tanks and media are within reach by Metro, and Howard’s alumni network in those fields is strong.

Howard compared with other universities

Also in this series: Georgetown and George Washington University, both in Washington, D.C.

Who should apply to Howard

Apply if you want a large research university in Washington with a strong Black intellectual tradition, if your grades are solid and you can produce a good SAT for merit purposes, and if your family or sponsor can cover most of the cost. I would put Howard on the list of any student interested in law, policy, media or health careers. If you need a full-ride on financial need alone, Howard is a risky choice; look at colleges that meet full need for internationals, such as Amherst or Yale.

FAQ on Howard University admission requirements for international students

What is Howard University’s acceptance rate?

Howard’s own class profile shows 35% (10,362 of 29,391 applicants). Howard has not published an official acceptance rate for later classes, though applications reached a record 36,393 for fall 2024.

Does Howard University give full scholarships to international students?

Howard offers merit scholarships to international students, but it does not publish amounts or promise to cover full cost. Submit the HU ISFAA by your application deadline to be considered.

How much is Howard University tuition for international students?

Tuition for 2026-27 is $37,996, and the full on-campus estimate is $64,926 a year before any loan fees. International students pay the same rate as US students.

Does Howard accept Duolingo or require the SAT?

Howard lists TOEFL (90) and IELTS (6.5), not Duolingo. The SAT and ACT are optional for 2026-27 except for the BS/MD, BS/DDS and BA/JD programmes.

Sources and updates

Checked on 29 October 2026 against Howard’s international first-year admission page, the domestic first-year page and 2026 application checklist, the 2026-2027 estimated cost of attendance, the Student Financial Services grants and scholarships page, the admission profile page, Howard’s 2022-23 Common Data Set, the October 2025 Howard fact sheet, Howard Magazine’s report on fall 2024 applications, The Dig’s September 2026 report on the U.S. News 2027 rankings, and the Graduate School’s international admissions page. The U.S. News ranks come from Howard’s announcement and Poets and Quants coverage of the 2027 edition. The College Data estimate is third-party. We will update this guide when Howard posts new deadlines, a new Common Data Set or scholarship amounts.

Jude Chinecherem

I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.