The University promotes academic excellence through a highly selective admission process. Students who are admitted show strong personal motivation along with backgrounds of consistent academic growth and achievement. The University encourages the submission of applications from socially and economically disadvantaged students who show promise of gaining from a Howard University education. To protect its character and standards of scholarship, the University reserves the right, and the applicant concedes to the University the right, to deny admission to any student at any time for any reason the University deems sufficient.
On September 24, 1983, the Board of Trustees of Howard University adopted the following policy statement regarding applicants for admission:
"Applicants seeking admission to Howard University are required to submit accurate and complete credentials and accurate and complete information requested by the University. Applicants who fail to do so shall be denied admission. Enrolled students, who as applicants failed to submit accurate and complete credentials or accurate and complete information on their application for admission shall be subject to dismissal when the same is made known regardless of classification."
Application Options
All students must use the Common Application to apply for admissions to the university. If a student needs assistance or accommodations, then the Office of Admission will provide a paper copy. Students should refer to the Admission Policy and Admission Process sections on the university website.
Howard University requires all admitted students to present proof of high school graduation before enrolling at Howard University. Admitted students must provide the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with such proof of graduation by August 1 of the year they plan to enroll.
International Students:
An extension will be granted to students outside the United States whose secondary schools operate on a different schedule. You will not be penalized for the late receipt of your graduation certificate or final report from your high school. Students who are submitting final exam results as proof of graduation should ensure that these results are sent to us as soon as they have been released, and provide official certificates as soon as these are available. Please note that if documents are not in English, an English translation should be provided, one which is issued either by a school official or by a translation agency accredited in the educational institution's country.
In all cases, proof of graduation must be provided prior to beginning the first semester of classes at Howard. Howard considers the following documents to serve as proof of secondary school graduation:
- A high school transcript submitted directly from the student’s school. We will not accept a high school transcript submitted by the student. The high school transcript must show the date of graduation. For students in a curriculum where national examinations or other certification signifies completion of high school those documents will be required as proof of graduation.
- A high school diploma showing the date of graduation, including the official seal and signature of the school’s governing officials.
Final transcripts may be submitted by a school official through the Common Application, Naviance, SCOIR or mail.