Howard University Acceptance Rate
Washington, District of Columbia · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 30,342
- Admitted
- 10,587
- Yield
- 21.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Howard University's acceptance rate has fallen from 48.4% in 2014–15 to 34.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 13,760 to 30,342 (+121%) over that period.
Its 34.9% rate makes Howard University more selective than about 91% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 6 tracked District of Columbia schools, it is more selective than about 67%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (35.9% for women vs 32.4% for men, a 3.5-point gap). Howard University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 21.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 13,760 | 6,661 | 48.4% | 1,479 |
| 2015–16 | 15,163 | 7,436 | 49% | 1,676 |
| 2016–17 | 18,225 | 5,468 | 30% | 901 |
| 2017–18 | 16,815 | 6,964 | 41.4% | 2,079 |
| 2018–19 | 20,946 | 6,617 | 31.6% | 1,501 |
| 2019–20 | 21,006 | 7,578 | 36.1% | 1,925 |
| 2020–21 | 24,325 | 9,398 | 38.6% | 2,360 |
| 2021–22 | 29,396 | 10,362 | 35.2% | 2,768 |
| 2022–23 | 19,188 | 10,253 | 53.4% | 2,493 |
| 2023–24 | 30,342 | 10,587 | 34.9% | 2,268 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 21,478 | 7,717 | 35.9% |
| Men | 8,864 | 2,870 | 32.4% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 560–660 | 27% |
| SAT Math | 540–638 | |
| ACT Composite | 22–28 | 10% |
How Howard University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Howard University's acceptance rate?
Howard University's acceptance rate is 34.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (10,587 admitted of 30,342 applicants).
Is Howard University test optional?
Howard University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Howard University?
Howard University received 30,342 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 10,587.
What SAT score do you need for Howard University?
Admitted students at Howard University typically scored 560–660 on SAT Reading/Writing and 540–638 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Howard University getting harder to get into?
Howard University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 48.4% in 2014–15 to 34.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.howard.edu/.