Is Howard University worth it?

The numbers behind the score

At Howard, a typical graduate carries about $23,750 in student debt and earns roughly $69,682 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $270 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.

How earnings compare to a high school diploma

Graduates earn $37,090 more than the typical working high school graduate in District of Columbia ($32,592) ten years after entering this school. A federal rule finalized in July 2026 ties each undergraduate program's federal loan eligibility to a comparison like this one, with the first calculations expected in 2027.

The national figure is $31,269. The Department of Education uses it instead of the state figure when fewer than half of a school's students come from its state.

79% of former students here earned more than the typical high school graduate ten years after entry, by College Scorecard's own measure.

Context, not a federal determination. The benchmarks are the Department of Education's published thresholds (2024 notice, based on 2022 Census data); thresholds under the 2026 rule have not been released yet. The official test looks at each program's graduates four years after completion; our figure is College Scorecard's median for the whole school, ten years after entry. How this works

Program earnings vs. the federal benchmark

Median earnings of working graduates four years after finishing each undergraduate program, next to the benchmark the federal earnings test uses: the typical working high school graduate aged 25–34 in District of Columbia ($32,592).

• Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

  Bachelor's degree · 25 working graduates counted

  $44,345

  $11,753 above the benchmark

• Fine and Studio Arts

  Bachelor's degree · 19 working graduates counted

  $54,696

  $22,104 above the benchmark

• Criminal Justice and Corrections

  Bachelor's degree · 31 working graduates counted

  $55,902

  $23,310 above the benchmark

• Psychology, General

  Bachelor's degree · 71 working graduates counted

  $59,069

  $26,477 above the benchmark

• Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other

  Bachelor's degree · 110 working graduates counted

  $59,909

  $27,317 above the benchmark

• Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

  Bachelor's degree · 23 working graduates counted

  $60,047

  $27,455 above the benchmark

• Biology, General

  Bachelor's degree · 76 working graduates counted

  $60,923

  $28,331 above the benchmark

• Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

  Bachelor's degree · 47 working graduates counted

  $61,316

  $28,724 above the benchmark

• Economics

  Bachelor's degree · 28 working graduates counted

  $63,972

  $31,380 above the benchmark

• Political Science and Government

  Bachelor's degree · 81 working graduates counted

  $65,733

  $33,141 above the benchmark

28 other undergraduate programs here have no four-year earnings figure, usually because too few graduates were counted to publish one. That says nothing about how those programs do. See every program on College Scorecard

An estimate, not an official determination. Under a federal rule taking effect July 1, 2027, programs below this benchmark in official results may face limits on federal student loans; Pell Grants are not affected. The official test uses finer program categories, different graduating classes and the Department's own records; its first results are expected in 2027. Programs that train for tipped jobs, such as cosmetology and massage, won't be rated on 2025 earnings, and the Department decides which programs qualify. Earnings: College Scorecard field-of-study data (released Oct 15, 2026). Benchmark: Department of Education published thresholds (2024 notice).

Represent Howard University and think a figure here is wrong? Request a correction and we'll check it against the latest College Scorecard release.

What this means for your family

Howard is a private nonprofit four year school in Washington, DC. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.

Common questions about Howard

Looking at private colleges options in District of Columbia? See the most affordable private colleges in District of Columbia →

The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →