Howard University: A Legacy of Truth and Service

Howard University, a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., stands as a beacon of academic excellence and social change. Founded in 1867, shortly after the end of the American Civil War, the university has a rich history of educating students from diverse backgrounds and producing leaders in various fields. Its motto, "Veritas et Utilitas" (Truth and Service), encapsulates its commitment to both intellectual rigor and societal contribution.

A Foundation Rooted in Service

The genesis of Howard University lies in the vision of members of the First Congregational Society of Washington, who initially sought to establish a theological seminary for black clergymen. This project quickly expanded to encompass a university, reflecting a broader commitment to education and opportunity. The institution was named in honor of General Oliver Otis Howard, a Civil War hero and commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, who played a pivotal role in its founding.

Congress chartered Howard on March 2, 1867, and early funding came from endowment, private benefaction, and tuition. Within two years, the university consisted of the colleges of liberal arts and medicine.

Academics and Programs

Howard University offers a comprehensive range of academic programs across 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue 143 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in areas such as:

Arts & Sciences
Business
Communications
Dentistry
Divinity
Education
Engineering, Architecture & Computer Sciences
Graduate School
Law
Medicine
Nursing & Allied Health Sciences
Pharmacy
Social Work

The university is particularly renowned for its programs in STEM fields. The National Science Foundation has ranked Howard as the top producer of African-American undergraduates who later earn science and engineering doctoral degrees. The University also boasts nationally ranked programs in social work, business, and communications.

Howard University is dedicated to educating students from diverse backgrounds at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.

Rankings and Recognition

In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Howard University is ranked No. 88 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. 17 in Best Undergraduate Teaching. U.S. News & World Report also ranked Howard as a top 12 university in the nation for social mobility and No. 1 in the Washington, D.C. area in its 2024 rankings. The Howard University School of Law placed No. 1 as the top law school for African Americans ranked by preLaw magazine.

A Legacy of Achievement

Howard University has a long and distinguished history of producing accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions to society. To date, the university has produced three Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows, and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.

Distinguished alumni of Howard University include a vice president of the United States, several United States diplomats and United States governors, a United States Ambassador to the United Nations, foreign royals, seven foreign heads of state, 11 members of United States Congress, a Supreme Court Justice, directors and executives of Fortune 500 companies, Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning actors, Grammy Award-winning songwriters and producers, two US Army generals, a US Air Force general and Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Nobel laureates including Nobel Prize for Literature winner Toni Morrison. Additional alumni include civil rights activists and pioneers in the Civil Rights Movement, a United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, a United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a United States Secretary of Agriculture, a United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a United States Secretary of the Army, a United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce, 12 Mayors of American cities, and three State Attorneys General.

Howard University has also produced many firsts, including Roger Arliner Young who became the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate in zoology, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. the first African-American US Army general, Frederic E. Davison the first African-American US Army Major General and the first to command a US Army Infantry Division, Johnson O. Akinleye, 12th Chancellor of North Carolina Central University, Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court justice, and Edward W. Brooke III who became the first African-American elected to the US Senate, among others. Howard University also counts four Rhodes Scholarship winners, 22 Pickering Fellows, 11 Truman Scholars, over 70 Fulbright Scholars, a Schwarzman Scholar, a Goldwater Scholar, and two Pulitzer Prize winners and numerous other Pulitzer Prize nominees among its alumni.

Notable Alumni Profiles

Dr. Patricia Bath (Class of 1968): An ophthalmologist, inventor, researcher, and humanitarian, Dr. Bath was a pioneer in her field. She was the first woman ophthalmologist appointed to the faculty of the University of California and the first woman chair to an ophthalmology residency program in the United States. She also invented the Laserphaco Probe, a surgical tool for treating cataracts.
Beth Brown, Ph.D. (Class of 1991): An astrophysicist and educator, Dr. Brown studied elliptical galaxies and worked on multiple outreach projects. She was the first black woman to get a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Michigan and was passionate about helping minorities to succeed in physics.
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (Class of 1973): A lawyer, orator, and advocate, Rep. Cummings dedicated his life to preserving American democracy. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates and the U.S. House of Representatives, advocating for the working class and fighting against voter suppression.
David Norman Dinkins (Class of 1950): An American politician, lawyer, and author, Dinkins made history as the first African American Mayor of New York City. He was a founding member of several organizations, including the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus of New York State.
Vice President Kamala D. Harris (Class of 1986): The first Black woman and the first Asian-American to run for vice president on a major party ticket, Harris refers to her time at Howard as her “formative years.” She has served as District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, and a United States Senator for California.

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Taraji P. Henson (Class of 1995): An Academy Award-nominated actress, producer, and mental health advocate, Henson has starred in numerous films and television series, including "Baby Boy" and "Empire."
Zora Neale Hurston (Class of 1920): Considered one of the foremost female writers of the 20th century, Hurston was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Her work often focused on the experience of Black women, and she is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God."
Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael): A civil rights activist, writer, and orator, Ture was a lead figure within the Pan-African and Black nationalist movements. He is known for coining the slogan, "Black power."

Campus Life and Traditions

The 256-acre campus, often referred to as "The Mecca", is in northwest Washington, D.C. Howard University offers a vibrant campus life with a rich array of traditions and activities. The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,519 (fall 2024), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 257 acres. The student-faculty ratio at Howard University is 13:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.

Some of the most prominent traditions include:

Howard Homecoming: This is the most prominent and richest cultural tradition of the institution. Over 100,000 of alumni, students, celebrity guests, and visitors are in attendance. Traditional events include the Homecoming Football Game and Tailgate, Pep Rally, Coronation Ball, Greek Step-Show, and Fashion Show.
Springfest: An annual tradition created by the Undergraduate Student Association (UGSA) to celebrate the arrival of spring. Springfest events traditionally include the Fashion Show, Talent Show, Vendor Fair, Poetry Showcase, Beauty Conference, Charity Basketball Game, and a major community service event.
The Bison Ball and Excellence Awards: An annual black tie gala hosted by the Howard University Student Association (HUSA). Students, faculty, organizations, and administrators are honored for their exceptional accomplishments.
Resfest week: A tradition that involves freshmen living in residence halls on campus competing in several organized competitions for campus bragging rights.

The university is also home to numerous academic and social Greek letter organizations. Howard University has many academic and social Greek letter organizations on campus.

Commitment to Research

Howard University is committed to further enhancing its strategic positioning as one of the top research universities in the nation. Howard's most prominent research building is the Interdisciplinary Research Building (IRB). Opened in 2016, the multi-story, 81,670 square foot, state-of-the-art research facility was completed for $70 million.

Other notable research centers and initiatives include:

The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC): Recognized as one of the world's largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent.
The Beltsville Center for Climate System Observation (BCCSO): A NASA University Research Center at the Beltsville, Maryland campus of Howard University.
The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center's (RBC): Serves as the hub and catalyst for enhancing international engagement for the benefit of the Howard University community.
Bison STEM Scholars Program: Established in 2017 to increase the number of underrepresented minorities with high-level research careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. Bison STEM Scholars are given full scholarships and committed to earning a PhD or a combined MD-PhD in a STEM discipline.

A History of Social Justice

Howard University has played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement on a number of occasions.

Beginning in 1942, Howard University students pioneered the "stool-sitting" technique of occupying stools at a local cafeteria which denied service to African Americans, blocking other customers waiting for service. By January 1943, students had begun to organize regular sit-ins and pickets around Washington, D.C. at cigar stores and cafeterias which refused to serve them because of their race. Stokely Carmichael, also known as Kwame Ture, a student in the Department of Philosophy and the Howard University School of Divinity, coined the term "Black Power" and worked in Lowndes County, Alabama as a voting rights activist.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Howard University accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy. The school's tuition and fees are $38,936. Seventy-two percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $45,180. The four-year graduation rate is 60%.

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