Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University stands as the nation's premier historically Black university, a distinction earned through more than 150 years of academic excellence, cultural leadership, and an unwavering commitment to its founding mission of Veritas et Utilitas — Truth and Service. Located on a 257-acre hilltop campus in the heart of Washington, D.C., Howard draws students from across the United States and more than 60 countries, creating a diverse intellectual community united by a shared dedication to scholarship and social impact. The university holds the singular distinction among HBCUs of being classified as an R1 research institution by the Carnegie Classification, reflecting the highest levels of research expenditure and doctoral production. Across 14 schools and colleges offering over 140 degree programs, students engage with a curriculum that integrates rigorous disciplinary study with a legacy of producing transformative leaders — from the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice to the first woman Vice President of the United States.

Academic life at Howard is shaped by a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio that supports close mentorship and intellectual engagement across disciplines ranging from the natural sciences and engineering to communications, business, and the fine arts. The university's location in the nation's capital provides students with unmatched access to federal agencies, international organizations, research institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, and a vast network of professional internship opportunities. For international applicants, Howard provides both need-based and merit-based institutional financial aid, with an average award of approximately $23,808 for nonresident students receiving institutional assistance. Through this combination of historic mission, research intensity, and strategic location, Howard prepares graduates not merely for careers but for lives of leadership, inquiry, and service to communities around the world.