Is Howard test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1150 and hold it if it's under.

What is Howard's acceptance rate?

41% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 14,144 of 34,211 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 126%, from 15,163 in 2015 to 34,211 in 2024, and Howard's admit rate went from 49% to 41%.

What ACT score do you need for Howard?

15% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 20–26, with a median of 23. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1050–1270 works out to about 20–27.

Why might Howard's SAT range look high?

Only 47% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

What GPA do you need for Howard?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.68 high school GPA, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

Does applying early decision help at Howard?

84% of early decision applicants were admitted (363 of 430), against 41% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Howard? (Middle 50%: 1050–1270)

First-year students at Howard who sent an SAT scored 1050–1270, with a median of 1150 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Howard admits 41% of applicants and is test optional.

Howard University · Washington, DC

Where your score lands at Howard

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1050–1270, median 1150

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Howard is for you and whether to send your score.

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Howard by the numbers

Admit rate: 41%
Middle 50% SAT: 1050–1270
Median SAT: 1150
About on the ACT: 20–27
Sent an SAT: 47%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Howard admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Howard admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 126%, from 15,163 in 2015 to 34,211 in 2024, and Howard's admit rate went from 49% to 41%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	34,211	14,144	41%
2023	30,342	10,587	35%
2022	19,188	10,253	53%
2021	29,396	10,362	35%
2020	24,325	9,398	39%
2019	21,006	7,578	36%
2018	20,946	6,617	32%
2017	16,815	6,964	41%
2016	18,225	5,468	30%
2015	15,163	7,436	49%

In fall 2024, 2,738 of the 14,144 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Howard

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1000Far reachHold
1000–1040ReachHold
1050–1140TargetHold
1150 and upTargetSend

90010001100120013001400

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Howard SAT sections, ACT and GPA

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	510	560	620
SAT Reading and Writing	540	610	660
SAT total	1050	1150	1270
ACT composite	20	23	26

Of enrolled first-year students, 47% sent an SAT and 15% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.68; 100% of new students reported one

Howard early decision and waitlist

Early decision

363 of 430 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision84%
All applicants41%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

1,310 applicants were offered a spot, 637 took it.

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Howard cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $50,539; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 70%
Median earnings: $63,066; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 13,017

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Howard

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in Washington, DC

Every college for an SAT of1050 1150 1270

Sources

Howard Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Howard admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Howard website
Howard University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1050–1270, and the median was 1150. At 1150 or higher you're above half of them. Howard admits 41% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$