Howard University

Howard University, in the nation's capital, was established in 1867. Shortly after the end of the Civil War, members of the First Congregational Society of Washington, D.C., considering establishing a seminary to educate African-American clergymen. The concept then expanded to found a university.

The 250+-acre school was named after General Oliver G. Howard, a Civil War hero who was both a founder of the university as well as the commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau.

Today Howard is one of only 48 U.S. private, Doctoral Research-extensive universities, comprising 12 schools and colleges in more than 120 areas of study.

Howard University had played a significant role in American history and in the Civil Rights Movement. Presently, the university is a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and is also funded by the Government of the Unites States.

The university offers several degree and certificate programs. The academic units are organized into the following schools and colleges:

• (MS)2 Middle School of Mathematics and Science
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Dentistry
• College of Engineering, Architecture & Computer Sciences
• College of Medicine
• College of Pharmacy, Nursing & Allied Health Sciences
• Howard University Graduate School
• John H. Johnson School of Communications
• School of Business
• School of Divinity
• School of Education
• School of Law
• School of Social Work

Howard is a member of the Consortium of Universities of Washington Metropolitan Area, which offers qualified students the opportunity to enroll in courses in several other area colleges.

Howard University has numerous Greek including the Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Sigma Theta, and many more. There are also several other prominent Greek letter organizations at the university. Some of these are the Delta Sigma Pi, Alpha Phi Omega, Phi Mu Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma, Gamma Sigma Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Among the noted alumni of Howard are Thurgood Marshall, U.S. Supreme Court Justice; David Dinkins, first African-American Mayor of New York City, and Adrian Fenty, Mayor of D.C.; Mike Espy, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; James L. Farmer, founder of Congress on Racial Equality; Malaack Compton-Rock, creator and manager of Champions of Children's Committee and wife of Chris Rock; Edward Brooke, U.S. Senator; Patricia Bath, first African-American woman doctor to hold a patent for a medical invention; Kenneth Clark, educator, psychologist, who conducted rsearch for Brown vs. Board of Education case; Zora Neale Huston, anthropologist, author; and Toni Morrison, winner of Nobel Prize for Literature.

Highlights

Where the school stands out most compared to other schools (details below):

• Historically black college.
• Many students concentrating in religion and philosophy, media, drama and performing arts, medical adminstration, law, medicine, and science.
• Unusually high availability of athletic financial aid.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Good faculty-to-student ratio.
• Racially diverse student body.
• High female/male ratio.
• Large number of students.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• High percentage of students are from out-of-state.

Other important characteristics:

• Faculty tenure system
• On-campus hospital
• Library on-campus
• Campus housing available
• Student meal (board) plan
• Study abroad option
• Distance learning available
• Part-time classes available
• ROTC
• Athlete financial aid

Degrees Awarded (in 2008-2009)

Students

Howard is a historically black college.

Student enrollment was 10,125 in 2007-2008 (9,621 full-time equivalent).

About 32% of the freshmen class in 2008-2009 was male and women were 68% of the class.

Undergrads are 65% of enrolled students, graduate students are 18%, and those seeking first-professional graduate degrees represent 16%.

About 1% of freshmen are from countries other than the US. Students living in the US make up 99% of incoming freshmen.

Among freshmen students, 99% are full-time and 1% are part-time.

Tuition and Other Costs (2008-2009)

Financial Aid: Howard participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.

Housing and Meals

Howard provides on-campus housing for 4,216 of its 9,621 (full-time) students (as of 2008-2009). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 19 meals weekly.

Athletics

School sports include football, basketball, baseball, and track. The school is in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 154 male students received the aid (men were 53% of those receiving aid) and 137 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 47% of students receiving such aid) .

Admissions (2008-2009)

SAT Test Scores: