Howard runs every first-year scholarship through the admission application. There is no separate scholarship form for most students, which sounds easy until you realize the scholarship deadline and the Early Action deadline are the same day: November 1.
🏆 Up to full tuition: Karsh STEM, H3SP & Boseman Scholarship
Average Net Price
$47,919/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
Not published by Howard
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
14 opportunities
7 automatic · 2 competitive · 5 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
GPA + official scores; no published cutoffs
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (no ACT superscore)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 1 • FAFSA: Nov 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Karsh STEM & H3SP (75% or 100% tuition + room and board); Boseman (Theatre Arts, full tuition)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Howard University (Read This First)
November 1 is the money deadline. Howard sends its freshman scholarships (HUFS) with Early Action and Early Decision decisions in late December. That means the Common App, transcript, official scores, and FAFSA all need to be in by November 1.
The FAFSA is required even for merit money. Domestic students who skip it are not considered for HUFS, including the merit tiers.
Freshmen cannot apply for donor scholarships. Howard awards all first-year institutional aid through admission. The donor scholarship application opens to students starting their second year.
Karsh STEM or H3SP, not both. Howard’s two biggest scholarship programs make you pick one.
Accept the award or risk losing it. You accept HUFS by agreeing to the Terms and Conditions in BisonHub and signing the HUFS Acceptance Agreement by the deadline in the offer.
Parent PLUS loans are capped now. Since July 1, 2026, parents can borrow $20,000 a year and $65,000 total per student. On a $66,182 on-campus budget, that gap matters.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Howard University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 20-26; SAT: 1060-1270.
Average net price? About $47,919/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Howard University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Howard University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,200 to $3,000 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$60,084
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$39,036
Housing & meals (typical)
$21,048
Total billed cost
$60,084
Average federal net price: $47,919 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Private university with a single tuition and mandatory-fee rate for all undergraduates; in-state and out-of-state students pay the same charges, and no broad nonresident tuition waivers or regional reciprocity programs are described.
The Full Budget Howard Uses
The table above shows what lands on your Howard bill. Howard’s full 2026-27 on-campus budget, which adds books ($1,220), transportation ($1,154), personal expenses ($2,468), and loan fees, comes to $66,182. That bigger number is what your aid offer is measured against.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Howard University
Do DC residents pay less than out-of-state students?
No. Howard is private, so everyone pays the same tuition. DC residents can get the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG), which pays up to $3,750 a year at private HBCUs like Howard for 2026-27, with an $18,750 lifetime cap. You apply through the DC OneApp every year, and income limits apply.
Is living off campus cheaper?
Not by Howard’s own math. The 2026-27 off-campus budget is $74,050, compared with $66,182 on campus, mostly because DC rent runs higher than residence hall rates. Living at home with family is the lowest at $57,768.
Why is Howard’s average net price higher than many schools?
Howard gives each freshman one HUFS award, and the school does not publish award amounts. Its federal average net price, shown above, sits well above many schools with similar sticker prices. Run Howard’s Net Price Calculator before you fall in love, and compare actual offer letters side by side.
How much can parents borrow with a Parent PLUS loan now?
Starting July 1, 2026, parents can borrow up to $20,000 a year and $65,000 total per student, all parents combined. Students who were already enrolled and borrowing before June 30, 2026 may be grandfathered under the old rules. Plan for the gap before deposit day, not after.
Is health insurance part of the cost?
No. Howard does not count health insurance in the standard budget. If your student can’t get coverage elsewhere, you can ask the Office of Financial Aid to raise the cost of attendance, which can open up more loan eligibility.
What happens if my student takes more than 21 credits?
Howard charges an extra $1,014 per credit above 21. Below full-time (12 credits), tuition runs $1,583 per credit, and some aid shrinks with it.
October: Last SAT/ACT test date Howard counts for early applicants. Send official scores from the testing agency.
November 1: Common App (Early Action or Early Decision), transcript, and FAFSA all due. This is your real scholarship deadline.
Late December: Admission decision and HUFS offer arrive together.
February 1: Regular Decision deadline.
Spring: Accept HUFS in BisonHub, sign the Acceptance Agreement, and deposit by May 1.
Parent rule of thumb: if the application is not complete by November 1, Howard moves it to the Regular Decision pool. Treat November 1 like a hard wall.
Automatic Scholarships at Howard University (HUFS)
Howard University Freshman Scholarships (HUFS) are reviewed automatically for every admitted first-time college student. There are seven awards: four based on GPA and test scores, and three based on financial need from the FAFSA. Your student gets one. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or cutoffs, so the offer letter is the first time you’ll see a number.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographic
DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)
📅 Deadline: New application every year in the DC OneApp, plus a processed FAFSA and residency documents uploaded all at once. OSSE has not announced 2027-28 dates; the 2026-27 window ran February 2 to August 21, 2026, closing at 3 p.m. File in February so the award letter is in hand before the Howard deposit. ✓ Renews (6 yrs)
$3,750/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ DC residents (12+ months domicile) under income limits.
🎓 All UndergradDC residents whose family has lived in the District for at least 12 consecutive months before college and stays through college. No GPA or test score. Family taxable income under $642,544 for 2026-27. At Howard, a private HBCU, DCTAG pays up to $3,750 a year, with an $18,750 lifetime cap and a six-year limit.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid by OSSE straight to Howard for tuition and never refunded to the student. Stacks with Pell and with Howard's own awards. If the parent moves out of DC during college, DCTAG ends at the next annual review.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the DC OneApp each year with the domicile documents on OSSE's checklist and list Howard as your school.
💡
Strategic Detail
District of Columbia grant for DC residents. At private HBCUs like Howard, the 2026-27 maximum is $3,750 per year with an $18,750 lifetime cap over up to six years (up from $2,500 and $12,500). Requires 12 months of DC domicile before the first year of college, a high school credential earned within 15 years, and income under OSSE's published limits.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any DC resident who meets the domicile and income rules. It is not competitive.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
HU Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: HUFS awards are communicated in your student's financial aid package after admission decisions are released. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Howard gives each student only one HUFS award. Outside scholarships must be reported, and Howard may adjust aid if total aid goes above cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The highest of Howard's four merit-based HUFS awards. Eligibility comes from SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA as entered by the Office of Admissions. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or cutoffs, and the criteria can change each year. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters under the GPA and credit terms in the student's HUFS Acceptance Agreement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students at the very top of Howard's admitted pool by GPA and, when submitted, test scores. With no published cutoff, treat this tier as a possibility rather than a plan.
Automatic
HU Achievers Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: Communicated in the financial aid package that follows the admission decision. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Howard gives each student only one HUFS award. Outside scholarships must be reported, and Howard may adjust aid if total aid goes above cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The second of Howard's four merit-based HUFS awards, set by SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or cutoffs. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters under the terms of the HUFS Acceptance Agreement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong admits just below the top band. Families in this range should budget around the offer letter, not around a hoped-for upgrade.
Automatic
HU Founders Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: Communicated in the financial aid package that follows the admission decision. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Howard gives each student only one HUFS award. Outside scholarships must be reported, and Howard may adjust aid if total aid goes above cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The third of Howard's four merit-based HUFS awards, set by SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or cutoffs. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters under the terms of the HUFS Acceptance Agreement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Solid, consistent admits in the middle of Howard's merit range.
Automatic
HU Capstone Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: Communicated in the financial aid package that follows the admission decision. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Howard gives each student only one HUFS award. Outside scholarships must be reported, and Howard may adjust aid if total aid goes above cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The entry-level merit-based HUFS award, set by SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or cutoffs. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters under the terms of the HUFS Acceptance Agreement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admits who clear Howard's lowest merit band. Smaller than the tiers above it, but it renews, so it adds up over four years.
Automatic
HU Leadership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: Communicated in the financial aid package that follows the admission decision. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Howard gives each student only one HUFS award. Outside scholarships must be reported, and Howard may adjust aid if total aid goes above cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Howard's three need-based HUFS awards. Eligibility is based on a range of Student Aid Index (SAI) values from the FAFSA or ISFAA. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or SAI ranges. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters under the terms of the HUFS Acceptance Agreement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-year students whose FAFSA shows financial need inside Howard's SAI range for this award. No extra application, but no FAFSA means no consideration.
Automatic
HU Opportunity Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: Communicated in the financial aid package that follows the admission decision. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Howard gives each student only one HUFS award. Outside scholarships must be reported, and Howard may adjust aid if total aid goes above cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Howard's three need-based HUFS awards, assigned from a range of Student Aid Index (SAI) values on the FAFSA or ISFAA. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or SAI ranges. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters under the terms of the HUFS Acceptance Agreement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-year students whose SAI falls in Howard's range for this award.
Automatic
HU Access Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: Communicated in the financial aid package that follows the admission decision. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Howard gives each student only one HUFS award. Outside scholarships must be reported, and Howard may adjust aid if total aid goes above cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Howard's three need-based HUFS awards; Howard's Financial Aid Terms and Conditions call it the Access Grant. Assigned from a range of Student Aid Index (SAI) values on the FAFSA or ISFAA. Howard does not publish dollar amounts or SAI ranges. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters under the terms of the HUFS Acceptance Agreement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-year students with meaningful financial need on the FAFSA.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Test-optional applicants are not at a disadvantage for HUFS, according to Howard. If you do send scores, only official scores from the testing agency count, and Howard does not superscore the ACT.
Automatic Scholarships: FAQs (Howard University)
What are the seven HUFS awards?
The merit awards are Presidential, Achievers, Founders, and Capstone. The need-based awards are Leadership, Opportunity, and Access (Howard also calls Access the Access Grant). A student can receive only one.
How does Howard decide which award my student gets?
The merit awards are based on the SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA that the Office of Admissions enters into Howard’s system. The need-based awards are based on a range of Student Aid Index (SAI) values from the FAFSA. Howard says the criteria can change each year.
Do we have to file the FAFSA for merit scholarships?
Yes. Howard requires the FAFSA for domestic students to be considered for HUFS, and international students file Howard’s ISFAA instead. Howard’s priority FAFSA date is November 1.
When will we find out?
For complete Early Action and Early Decision applications, Howard awards scholarships at the same time as admission decisions in late December.
Should we submit test scores?
It’s optional. Howard says test-optional students are still eligible and are not at a disadvantage. If your student has strong scores, send them officially through the College Board or ACT. October is the last test date counted for early applicants, and December for Regular Decision.
How does my student keep the scholarship?
HUFS renews for up to eight consecutive semesters. The GPA and credit requirements are written into each student’s HUFS Acceptance Agreement, and Howard checks them after spring grades post. Appeals are at Howard’s discretion, so get help early if grades slip.
Can HUFS be combined with outside scholarships?
Yes, but outside money must be reported, and Howard may adjust the package if total aid goes above the cost of attendance.
Howard’s two biggest scholarships are full academic programs, not just checks. Karsh STEM Scholars and the Humanities & Social Sciences Scholars Program (H3SP) both cover 75% or 100% of tuition plus room and board, and both are built to send students on to a PhD. Your student can apply to one, not both.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Howard?
Aid Type
Stacks with HUFS?
Parent Translation
HUFS (any tier)
N/A
One award per student, merit or need, never both.
Karsh STEM / H3SP
Replaces
The program package takes the place of HUFS rather than sitting on top of it.
Donor & departmental scholarships
Usually, from year two
Open to continuing students only, and Howard trims awards to avoid going over cost of attendance.
DCTAG & outside scholarships
Yes, if reported
Report every outside dollar. Howard can adjust the package if the total goes over cost of attendance.
Pell & federal grants
Yes
Based on the FAFSA. One catch: students whose non-federal scholarships cover the entire cost of attendance lose Pell eligibility.
Both programs come with a summer bridge before freshman year and an international trip at the end of it, plus required summer internships or research every year after. If your student wants a medical degree only, Karsh is the wrong fit. Howard says an MD alone does not qualify, and points those students to its separate BS/MD program.
App Requiredmajor specific
Humanities & Social Sciences Scholars Program (H3SP)
📅 Deadline: January 31 · 📢 Results: Selection Weekend invitations go out after January application review; final offers issued after the weekend concludes. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ US citizens or permanent residents committed to a humanities or social science PhD.
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~Cohort of about 15 winners/yr3.30+ overall high school GPA; committed to a PhD in a humanities or social science field; documented community service; US citizen or permanent resident; SAT/ACT optional.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces HUFS rather than stacking on top of it. Outside scholarships must be reported.
📄
How to Apply
1) Apply to Howard through the Common App. 2) Complete the separate H3SP application on Submittable with transcript, essays, and one recommendation from a teacher of a writing-intensive course. 3) File the FAFSA. 4) Finalists complete placement testing and an in-person Selection Weekend with a panel interview. 5) Offers go out in April, replies are due May 1, and scholars must complete the Summer Bridge Program.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of academic record, writing quality, research interest in humanities or social sciences, and long-term PhD commitment. Finalists selected through Selection Weekend panel interview.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Howard's humanities and social sciences counterpart to Karsh, built as a pipeline to a PhD. The package includes a 75% or 100% tuition scholarship, room and board, and a books and supplies stipend, along with a mandatory summer bridge program, a 14-day trip abroad, required summer internships, advising, and mentoring. Students may apply to H3SP or Karsh, not both.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong writers who can explain why they want a PhD in fields like history, English, political science, psychology, or economics. With a cohort of about 15, this is one of the most selective awards at Howard.
App Requiredmajor specific
Karsh STEM Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: January 31 · 📢 Results: T.R.A.C.K.S. Weekend invitations go out after January application review; final offers issued after the weekend concludes. Accepted offers must be confirmed by May 1. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ US citizens or permanent residents committed to a STEM PhD or MD/PhD.
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~Cohort of about 30 or more winners/yr3.30+ overall high school GPA with B or better in STEM courses; documented community service; US citizen or permanent resident; current high school senior; SAT/ACT optional.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces HUFS rather than stacking on top of it. Outside scholarships must be reported.
📄
How to Apply
1) Apply to Howard through the Common App; Early Action applicants who meet the criteria are invited to apply, though Howard gives every complete application equal consideration. 2) Complete the separate KSSP application on Submittable between November 1 and January 31, with transcript, short answers, and one STEM teacher recommendation. 3) File the FAFSA. 4) Finalists take online placement testing in early March and attend the in-person T.R.A.C.K.S. selection weekend with a panel interview. 5) Offers go out April 1, replies are due May 1, and scholars must complete the Summer Bridge Program.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of academic record, STEM course performance, community service, research interest, and long-term PhD/MD-PhD commitment. Finalists selected through T.R.A.C.K.S. Weekend panel interview.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Howard's flagship STEM program, built as a pipeline to a PhD or MD/PhD in a STEM field (an MD alone does not qualify). The scholarship covers 75% or 100% of tuition depending on family income, plus mandatory fees, room, board, and a books allowance. Scholars complete a required summer bridge program with an international trip, plus summer research internships, tutoring, and mentoring. Students may apply to Karsh or H3SP, not both.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
STEM students with strong grades, real research curiosity, and a clear reason for wanting a PhD. Hundreds apply each year for a cohort of roughly 30, and fit with the research mission matters as much as GPA.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When are the Karsh and H3SP applications due?
The Karsh application runs from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET on Submittable. H3SP used the same November 1 to January 31 window last cycle, but Howard had not posted the new dates as of October 2026.
What GPA do you need?
Both programs require at least a 3.30 overall high school GPA. Karsh also wants B or better in STEM courses. Test scores are optional for both.
Does applying Early Action help?
Early Action applicants who meet the criteria get invited to apply, which is a helpful nudge. Howard is clear, though, that every complete application gets equal consideration, however the student heard about the program.
How many students win?
Karsh builds a cohort of about 30 or more from hundreds of applicants. H3SP builds a cohort of about 15.
Is it 75% or 100% of tuition?
Karsh decides based on family income. Room, board, and a books allowance are included either way. H3SP offers the same 75% or 100% structure plus room, board, and a books and supplies stipend.
Can international students apply?
No. Both programs require US citizenship or permanent residency.
What does the selection process look like?
Top applicants take an online placement test in early March, then attend an in-person selection weekend with a panel interview. For Karsh that’s T.R.A.C.K.S. Weekend, March 19 and 20, 2027. Offers go out in early April, and replies are due May 1.
What should my student prepare?
One strong recommendation (a STEM teacher for Karsh, a writing-intensive course teacher for H3SP), short answers or essays, and a clear story about why they want a PhD. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder can help organize it.
At Howard, the freshman aid letter is the whole story for year one. Howard says all institutional aid for incoming students is awarded through admission, and the donor scholarship application is open to continuing students only. Extra Howard money usually starts in year two.
Budget freshman year using only the offer letter, DCTAG if you’re a DC family, and outside scholarships.
In the spring of freshman year, watch Howard email for the donor scholarship application and submit it.
Keep the FAFSA current and set up a Handshake profile. Howard lists both as priority factors.
Check your student’s school (Business, Communications, Engineering, and so on) for its own scholarship cycle.
Parent translation: the hidden money at Howard is real, but it’s a sophomore-year conversation, not a senior-year one.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t automatic, and most aren’t open to incoming freshmen. They can make years two through four noticeably cheaper, and DC families have one extra grant that kicks in right away.
Full TuitionApp Requiredmajor specificneed based
Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Selected through the College of Fine Arts. Theatre performance applicants (Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre) must apply to Howard by November 1 and complete the audition. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✘ Not stackable
⚠ One new incoming Fine Arts student each year (plus initial cohort by class) receives a four‑year scholarship that pays full Howard tuition, with selection based on artistic talent and financial need.
👥 ~One incoming student per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers tuition only; housing, meals, and fees still need other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Howard and to the Theatre Arts program. Performance majors must apply by November 1 and complete recorded and live auditions. There is no public application form; questions go to the College of Fine Arts at finearts@howard.edu.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes exceptional artistic skill, alignment with Boseman’s legacy in the arts, and demonstrated financial need; decisions guided by the dean and department chair.
💡
Strategic Detail
Endowed in 2021 with a $5.4 million gift from Netflix in honor of alumnus Chadwick Boseman. Covers full university tuition for four years for one incoming student in the Department of Theatre Arts, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. Selection is guided by the college dean and the department chair.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One incoming Theatre Arts student per year with exceptional artistic talent. Reporting at launch also cited financial need as a factor.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Donor Scholarships (Continuing Students)
📅 Deadline: Opens each spring for the next academic year. The 2026-27 application closed April 6, 2026. · 📢 Results: Awards often decided in summer for the next academic year. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts toward total aid; Howard may adjust awards to avoid going over cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Watch your Howard email each spring for the donor scholarship application, submit it, keep the FAFSA or ISFAA current, and create a Handshake profile.
Selection criteria: Good academic standing, GPA, and alignment with donor or continuation criteria; reviewed by a committee.
💡
Strategic Detail
Howard's Office of Financial Aid runs one donor scholarship application each spring for continuing students, and one application considers you for every donor fund you match. A FAFSA or ISFAA must be on file. Howard does not publish award amounts. Incoming freshmen are not eligible; Howard awards all first-year institutional aid through admission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing students in good academic and social standing with a FAFSA on file. Howard also lists a completed Handshake profile as a priority factor.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Departmental & College-Based Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by school or college; most run in the spring for the following year. · 📢 Results: Summer, following spring committee review Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Often combines with other aid, but Howard adjusts awards to avoid going over cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Once enrolled, check your school's scholarship page and your Howard email each spring, and apply through the process your school lists.
Selection criteria: Departmental committees review need, academic standing, and quality of application and contributions to the field.
💡
Strategic Detail
Individual schools and colleges award their own scholarships to students in their programs. Howard links separate pages for Business, Communications, Education, Arts and Sciences, Fine Arts, Engineering and Architecture, and Nursing and Allied Health. Amounts and timelines vary by school.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Enrolled students in good standing within a specific school, often with faculty support and demonstrated need.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Onlymajor specific
School of Business Endowed Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Application typically released in January and accepted January through March; decisions are made over the summer. Non-Renewable
$500–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Current Howard School of Business students only.
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other aid, but Howard reduces awards to avoid over-awarding; students whose scholarships already cover all expenses are unlikely to receive one.
📄
How to Apply
Watch your Howard email from the Office of Student Affairs in January and February, submit the Endowed Scholarship Application, then accept the award in BisonWeb and send a thank-you letter, photo, and resume.
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded by alumni and corporate endowments. Awards typically range from $500 to $10,000 based on financial need, academic standing, and application quality. Open only to currently enrolled School of Business students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing business students in good academic and judicial standing who show financial need and submit a strong application.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Howard Transfer Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Follows Howard's transfer admission timeline; Howard does not publish a separate scholarship deadline. ✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ New transfer students; funding not guaranteed every year.
🎓 Transfer
💡
Strategic Detail
Howard allocates transfer scholarships toward tuition and fees only. Funding levels can change each year, so new transfer students may not receive one in a given year. Recipients keep the award while meeting the renewal terms in their contract. Howard does not publish award amounts or stacking rules.
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Who Actually Wins
New transfer students admitted in a year when Howard has transfer funding available.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
When does the donor scholarship application open?
Each spring for the following year. The 2026-27 application closed April 6, 2026, and Howard notifies winners by email in the fall. One application considers your student for every donor fund they match.
Is there extra money for business majors?
Yes. The School of Business runs its own Endowed Scholarship Application each January for current business students. Awards typically range from $500 to $10,000, and applications are accepted January through March.
We live in DC. What else is there?
DCTAG pays up to $3,750 a year at Howard for 2026-27, up to an $18,750 lifetime cap. It isn’t competitive: if you meet the 12-month DC domicile rule and the income limits, you qualify. Reapply through the DC OneApp every year.
What is the Chadwick Boseman scholarship?
Netflix endowed it in 2021 in Boseman’s honor. It covers full tuition for four years for one incoming Theatre Arts student each year. Performance majors (Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre) must apply to Howard by November 1 and audition.
Are there scholarships for transfer students?
Howard sets aside transfer scholarships for tuition and fees, but funding changes year to year, so they aren’t guaranteed for every new transfer class.
Can extra scholarships reduce our other aid?
They can. Howard adjusts awards to avoid going over the cost of attendance, and students whose aid already covers everything are unlikely to get endowed money. Apply anyway if there’s a real gap.
Howard doesn’t have a single Honors College. Instead, it runs four separate honors programs, each based in its own school, with its own admission rules and requirements.
College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program: Running since 1957, with honors courses, directed readings, research, and a required senior thesis. Perks include early registration and priority housing.
Annenberg Honors Program (Cathy Hughes School of Communications): Students apply in the spring of freshman year. Scholars keep a 3.5 GPA, complete 12 credits of a foreign language, log 20 hours of off-campus service each semester, and write a master’s-level thesis.
Executive Leadership Honors Program: Based in the School of Business.
School of Education Honors Program: Based in the School of Education.
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Honest note: We couldn’t find a scholarship attached to any of Howard’s honors programs. Honors at Howard is about smaller classes, research, and the transcript notation, not extra money. For the big-dollar programs, look at Karsh STEM and H3SP in the flagship section above.
Where Ambitious Students Find Money Instead
STEM and research: Karsh STEM Scholars (75% or 100% tuition plus room and board).
Humanities and social sciences: H3SP, with the same package and a cohort of about 15.
Theatre Arts: The Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship, which covers full tuition for one student a year.
Business: School of Business endowed scholarships, from sophomore year.
Honors Programs: FAQs (Howard University)
Is there an Honors College at Howard?
No. Howard has four school-based honors programs, and admission and requirements are handled by each school.
Can my student join honors as a freshman?
It depends on the program. The Arts and Sciences program admits incoming freshmen and also accepts rising sophomores. Annenberg only takes applications from current freshmen, in the spring, for the sophomore year.
Does honors come with a scholarship?
Not that we could find. Treat honors as an academic upgrade and plan aid around HUFS and the flagship programs.
What does honors actually change day to day?
Smaller classes with top faculty, research seminars, a thesis, and in Arts and Sciences, early registration and priority housing. Honors also appears on the transcript.
Howard is the only HBCU with the R1 research designation, the top tier for research universities. It sits a couple of miles from the Capitol, and that location shows up everywhere: internships on the Hill, in federal agencies, and in DC newsrooms are part of normal student life here.
Nationally Known Program: Cathy Hughes School of Communications: One of Howard’s signature schools, covering journalism, film, media, and communication studies. Its Annenberg Honors Program has sent students straight into doctoral programs, and its students regularly land in DC media and policy jobs.
Business: The AACSB-accredited School of Business has centers in entrepreneurship, supply chain, insurance, hospitality, and music business, with partners like PNC and Warner Music.
Engineering and Computer Science: The College of Engineering and Architecture feeds Karsh STEM, and computer science students can do Tech Exchange, a residency at Google’s Mountain View campus with a housing stipend.
Health Sciences: Howard has its own colleges of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing, plus a hospital, and offers a BS/MD dual-degree track for students set on medicine.
Fine Arts: The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts covers theatre, music, and art, with audition- and portfolio-based admission.
🔗 Official Howard University Links
Use Howard’s official pages below to check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs, and program details. Always rely on these pages for the final word.
Howard is a school families choose with their hearts, and that’s fine. Just walk in with your eyes open on the money. Almost everything for freshman year is decided by one date, November 1, and one letter in late December. Get the Common App, official scores, and the FAFSA in early, and your student is considered for every HUFS award in one shot.
If your student is a researcher at heart, Karsh STEM and H3SP are two of the best-funded programs at any HBCU, but they’re picky and you only get one shot between them. For everyone else, plan freshman year around the offer letter and treat donor and departmental money as a year-two bonus. With the new Parent PLUS limits, run the net price calculator and do the four-year math before deposit day, not after.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →
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