Navigating Financial Aid at Howard University: A Comprehensive Guide

Paying for college is a significant investment, and understanding the financial aid landscape is crucial. Howard University offers a range of financial aid options to assist students and their families in managing educational expenses. Financial aid encompasses money to help students and their families pay for college. This assistance covers educational expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. The aid can originate from various sources, including the federal government, the state, the university itself, or private organizations.

Understanding Financial Aid

Financial aid is designed to alleviate the burden of college costs, covering various educational expenses. These expenses include tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. It can come from the federal government, the state where the student lives, the school the student attends, or a nonprofit or private organization.

Howard University's Unique Programs

Howard University distinguishes itself by providing a diverse array of special programs designed to enrich the student experience. These programs provide not only financial assistance but also unique opportunities for academic and professional development. Here's a glimpse into some of these exceptional programs:

Karsh STEM Scholars Program: This prestigious program attracts high-achieving high school students passionate about STEM fields. Scholars receive comprehensive scholarships covering tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and an allowance for books. A key requirement is the pursuit of a PhD or a combined MD-PhD within a STEM discipline.
Tech Exchange: This residency program, in partnership with Google, provides students with a dedicated workspace at Google's Mountain View campus. Participants receive a generous stipend to cover housing and other expenses and have full access to Google resources.
Howard Entertainment: In collaboration with Amazon Studios, this initiative aims to diversify talent pipelines within the entertainment industry.
Cathy Hughes School of Communications Annenberg Honors Program: This program offers a comprehensive learning experience that nurtures intellectual development and scholastic excellence.

Types of Financial Aid Available

Howard University provides various forms of financial aid to cater to different student needs:

Grants, Scholarships & Fellowships: These funds do not require repayment and are sourced from programs both within and outside the university.
Loans: Federal and non-federal loan programs are available to help students pay for their education.
Work Programs: These programs offer on-campus employment opportunities, providing students with a means to financially support themselves. Work-Study is based on financial need; therefore, not all students may qualify. Off-campus employment information is also available.

Scholarships

Scholarships are a form of funding that doesn’t need to be paid back. Need-based scholarships consider a student’s financial status. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. Scholarships may also be awarded based on community service, hobbies, personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation. Some students receive enough scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.

Read also: Tuition and Fees at Howard

Grants

Grants, scholarships, and fellowship funds are forms of financial aid you do not have to pay back. These types of aid are available from various organizations such as Senators, Delegates, the federal government, community groups, departments, Howard University, etc.

Work-Study Programs

Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job. Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.

Applying for Financial Aid: A Step-by-Step Guide

To access financial aid at Howard University, follow these steps:

Submit the FAFSA: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which becomes available on October 1st of the year preceding the academic year. Howard University's Federal School Code is 001448. Tax filers are encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool to streamline the application process. The priority filing deadline for FAFSA is November 1st. Students who submit their FAFSA by November 1st will be considered for all financial aid possible.
Review Your Award Package: The award package outlines the aid available to you should you choose to attend Howard University. Report any additional benefits or gift aid (scholarships and grants) not included in the package. Any changes to the award should be dated, signed, and returned to the Office of Financial Aid.
Receive Your Aid: Your aid may be adjusted based on your actual enrollment at the time of registration.

International Student Financial Aid

International students are generally not eligible for federal aid but may qualify for institutional aid, including Howard University Freshman Scholarships. To be considered, international students must complete the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA).

ISFAA Completion

Student applicants must submit a completed ISFAA file to receive an aid offer package or scheduled financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid cannot consider an incomplete ISFAA file. The completed ISFAA file includes all of the following:

Signed the HU ISFAA
Income/Wages & Tax data OR proof of no filing requirement in the country of residence for:
- Student applicant
- Parent(s) if considered a dependent student
- Spouse if the student applicant is married
Currency conversion to US Dollars

The ISFAA requires financial information from the country of residence, such as taxes, assets, investments, and pension. Financial data and the household's total number to provide a need calculation based on the Department of Education metrics.

Understanding Costs and Aid Statistics at Howard University

Understanding the costs associated with attending Howard University, as well as the available financial aid, is essential for prospective students and their families.

Tuition and Fees

Howard University's tuition is $38,936, which is less than the national average cost of tuition of $46,950. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.

Total Cost and Net Price

As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Howard University, the total cost is $59,288.

Financial Aid Statistics

The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Howard University was $9,388. Additionally, 79% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2023.

Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,393.

Merit-based aid, also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Howard University - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $15,018.

Howard University met 21% of its students’ financial aid need.

Student Loan Debt at Howard University

It's important to be aware of potential student loan debt and its implications for your financial future. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

At Howard University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $24,500. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $260.

Additionally, 8% of graduating students at Howard University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $46,930 in private loan debt at graduation.

In 2024, the average total indebtedness of graduating students was $56,408, with 72% of graduating students having borrowed some type of loan.

Loan Options

Several loan options are available to help students finance their education:

Direct Parent PLUS Loan: Available to parents of dependent undergraduate students enrolled at least halftime.
Direct Graduate PLUS Loan: Available to graduate or professional students enrolled at least halftime.
Direct Subsidized Loans: Available to undergraduate students with financial need.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Available to undergraduate and graduate students, with no requirement to demonstrate financial need.
Private/Alternative Loans: Students ineligible for Federal Direct Loans or needing additional funds may apply for private loans.

Howard University Freshman Scholarships (HUFS)

HOWARD UNIVERSITY FRESHMAN SCHOLARSHIPS (HUFS) are available to incoming First Time in College Students (FTICs). The HUFS award criteria for incoming freshmen may change every year. No internal application is needed. Eligibility for merit-based awards is determined based on students' SAT/ACT scores/high school GPAs that are entered into our system by the Office of Admissions. Eligibility for need-based HUFS awards is determined based on a range of students’ Student Aid Index (SAI). FAFSA is required for domestic students.

All Howard University Freshman Scholarship (HUFS) recipients should refer to their HUFS agreement for renewal requirements.

Summer Financial Aid

While limited, there are several options Howard University provides students for summer aid. Federal and non-federal loan programs are available to help students pay for their education. SUMMER 2025 REGISTRATION BEGINS April 1, 2025 If contacting our office to inquire about summer awarding, please note the following:

You must have a valid 2024-2025 FAFSA on file.
You must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for federal loans and Pell grant.
Students who are Pell grant eligible will receive awards automatically.
Summer courses will NOT count towards your HUFS requirements.
All students with any remaining loan eligibility in 2024-2025 will need to complete a Federal Direct Loan Adjustment Form.

Loan Limits

The amount of loans a student can receive varies by their academic level and student status. See the below chart for annual and aggregate loan limits:

	Dependent Students	Independent Students (except students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans)(and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans)
First-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit	$5,500-No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.	$9,500-No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Second-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit	$6,500-No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.	$10,500-No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Third-Year and Beyond Undergraduate Loan Limit	$7,500-No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.	$12,500-No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Graduate or Professional Students Annual Loan Limit	Not Applicable (all graduate and professional students are considered independent)	$20,500 (unsubsidized
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limit	$57,500 for undergraduates-No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.	$138,500 for graduate or professional students-No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

A Direct Stafford Subsidized Loan is available to undergraduate students who display financial need. A Subsidized Loan does not accrue interest while the student is enrolled in school at least half-time (6 credits), for the first 6 months after a student leaves school whether for graduation or breaks in enrollment, and during a period of deferment.

A Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loan is available to undergraduate and graduate students and the student does not have to demonstrate financial need.

Special Circumstances and Verification

Households that exhibit a change in income/circumstances since the tax year requested by FAFSA may have the FAFSA application re-evaluated for need-based aid. The Special Circumstances appeal is a student's opportunity to provide supporting documentation for their circumstances to be reviewed for need-based aid consideration. To determine if this is the best option for you, please contact us for more information. Please note: Approved appeals will be evaluated for additional Pell grant eligibility.

The process of verification allows the Department of Education to check the accuracy of the information entered in the FAFSA by requiring schools to collect specific documentation related to that information. If selected for this process, financial aid cannot be awarded until the process is complete. Howard University has established a partnership with Inceptia to expedite the verification process for students. Verification Gateway (VG) from Inceptia is an online portal to guide students and parents through verification.

There are instances where the Department of Education places the verification flag on a student’s application after it has already been received by the school, and in many cases the school has already disbursed the students’ aid. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships can request documentation to verify what is in the FAFSA. The specific documentation will vary based on a family or student’s individual case. The two years prior tax return transcript for both the parent and student, if the student is dependent. You can get your free transcripts immediately online.

Additional Information

All outside scholarships are processed and applied to BisonHub by the Bursar's Office. Most outside scholarships are received by check or electronic payment.
Most state grants are reviewed post add/drop each semester.
Graduating seniors enrolled in less than 15 credits can request their HUFS during their final semester.
Students are required to remain within the Cost of Attendance (COA) and financial need (COA minus SAI) each academic year. If a student receives an outside scholarship that places them over COA or financial need, an adjustment will be made to their award package to maintain their budgeted amount.
Federal regulations require Howard University to establish, publish, and apply standards to monitor financial aid recipients’ progress toward completing their degree program. The federal regulations require that an institution use three measurements to determine SAP: qualitative, quantitative, and maximum timeframe. The student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average, maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate, and complete a degree or certificate within a maximum timeframe to remain eligible for federal funding. This statement must outline each term that negatively impacted SAP. Supporting DocumentationThe required documentation supports the information referenced in the student’s personal statement.

Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

No. Federal regulations require Howard University to establish, publish, and apply standards to monitor financial aid recipients’ progress toward completing their degree program. The federal regulations require that an institution use three measurements to determine SAP: qualitative, quantitative, and maximum timeframe. The student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average, maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate, and complete a degree or certificate within a maximum timeframe to remain eligible for federal funding. This statement must outline each term that negatively impacted SAP. Supporting DocumentationThe required documentation supports the information referenced in the student’s personal statement.

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