First-year admissions

Howard University acceptance rate

Howard University admitted 42.2% of first-year applicants for fall 2025 (15,724 of 37,270), the highest in the four years with figures, up from 31.6% for fall 2018. Early decision admitted 84.4% for fall 2025 (363 of 430). Applications rose from 20,946 to 37,270 over that span. Our archive has no report for fall 2023 and no usable figures for fall 2019, fall 2021, and fall 2022.

Howard University’s acceptance rate, fall 2018–2025

Dark bars show first-year admission. Olive bars show early decision. — = not reported or not usable.

Howard University first-year acceptance rate, applicants, admits, enrolled, and yield by entering class, newest first. Early-decision rate is shown under the first-year rate when the report includes C21 counts.
Year	Acceptance rate	Applied	Admitted	Enrolled	Yield	Source
Fall 20252025–26 report	42.2%84.4% ED	37,270	15,724	2,490	15.8%	PDF
Fall 20242024–25 report	41.3%49.4% ED	34,211	14,144	2,738	19.4%	PDF
Fall 2023	—	No report in our archive
Fall 20222022–23 report	—	Report on file; counts not usable
Fall 20212021–22 report	—	Report on file; counts not usable
Fall 20202020–21 report	38.6%—	24,325	9,398	2,360	25.1%	PDF
Fall 20192019–20 report	—	Report on file; counts not usable
Fall 20182018–19 report	31.6%—	20,946	6,617	—	—	PDF

Source: Common Data Set reports published by Howard University, section C1 (first-time, first-year, degree-seeking students). Note: Acceptance rate is admitted ÷ applied; yield is enrolled ÷ admitted. Early-decision figures are section C21 (applications received and admitted under the early decision plan). Each year is the class entering that fall; the 2024–25 report covers fall 2024. — = not reported or not usable.