What is Howard University known for culturally?

Howard University is culturally known as a premier Historically Black University (HBCU) and "Black Harvard," famous for shaping Black leaders in politics, arts, and sciences, fostering activism, and preserving African diaspora history through institutions like the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, while offering a vibrant campus life rooted in Black excellence and diverse global connections. It's recognized for producing influential alumni like Toni Morrison, Kamala Harris, and Thurgood Marshall, and for its role in social progress and cultural preservation.

What is Howard University best known for?

Howard University is known as a prestigious, federally chartered HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in D.C., recognized for academic excellence, producing Black leaders, top STEM/Fine Arts programs (like the Boseman College), leading research (R1 status), and its motto of "Truth and Service," fostering a strong sense of community and cultural impact. It's a major producer of African Americans entering medical and law schools and boasts famous alumni like Kamala Harris, Toni Morrison, and Thurgood Marshall.
 

What is the ethnic diversity of Howard University?

The enrolled student population at Howard University is 68.8% Black or African American, 6.45% Hispanic or Latino, 4.57% Two or More Races, 3.06% Asian, 0.924% White, 0.395% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.104% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Can non-blacks go to Howard?

However, HBCUs are open to students of all races and ethnicities, and Howard is no exception.

What are some traditions at Howard University?

Whether it's our pinning ceremony at Orientation, our Graduate Recognition and Hooding Ceremony, our White Coat Ceremony, or Howard's Homecoming celebration, each event marks the achieved milestones and accomplishments of our graduate students and alumni.

Howard College Campus Virtual Tour 2025

Why is Howard so popular?

As a leading private research university, Howard is at the forefront of research, innovation, and global thought leadership.

Which celebrity went to Howard University?

Howard University boasts a vast array of notable alumni in politics, arts, law, and business, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, actors Chadwick Boseman, Taraji P. Henson, and Phylicia Rashad, and civil rights leaders like Andrew Young, showcasing a legacy of influential leaders and innovators across diverse fields.
 

What is the #1 HBCU in America?

There isn't one single "number one" HBCU, as rankings vary by publication and criteria, but Howard University is frequently cited as #1 by sources like Forbes and LinkedIn for career success, while Spelman College often leads in U.S. News & World Report rankings for social mobility, and Florida A&M University has also been named #1 by Niche, showing different institutions excel in different areas. 

Is Howard a predominantly Black college?

As the only truly comprehensive predominantly Black university, Howard is one of the major engineers of change in our society. Through its traditional and cutting-edge academic programs, the University seeks to improve the circumstances of all people in the search for peace and justice on earth.

What is the reputation of Howard University?

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.

Is Howard University LGBT friendly?

The Office of Residence Life and University Housing at Howard University welcomes students of all gender identities and expressions and is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive community for all residents.

Which Ivy has the most black students?

While data fluctuates yearly, Harvard University often leads in the percentage of Black students among Ivies, with figures around 9-11% in recent entering classes, but Columbia University has historically shown high percentages and sometimes led in Black enrollment, with recent reports placing it near the top, though recent data (Class of 2027) shows Harvard slightly ahead at 9.4% vs Columbia's 7.5%. Always check the most recent data from sources like Ivy Coach or Harvard Magazine for the latest enrollment figures. 

What is the crime rate at Howard University?

Howard On-Campus Crime Stats

Based on a student body population of 9,399, that's 34.68 incidents per 1,000 students. The table below gives the number of incidents by category, and for comparision, also states the max number of incidents reported by any school in our analysis.

Is Howard University as good as Harvard?

Howard University and Harvard University are both excellent universities but serve different purposes, with Harvard generally leading in global rankings, research, and selectivity, while Howard excels as a premier Historically Black University (HBCU) known for its strong social impact, specific programs (like communications, health, business), and high economic mobility for its graduates, often called the "Harvard of HBCUs" for its prestige within that context, but they offer different strengths and environments. 

Why is Howard so hard to get into?

Howard University is hard to get into because it's a highly selective, prestigious institution (especially for HBCUs), attracting thousands of high-achieving applicants, leading to intense competition, especially for popular majors like Political Science and Pre-Med, requiring strong grades (around 3.75+ GPA), solid test scores (though optional), compelling essays, and significant extracurriculars demonstrating motivation and community engagement within a holistic review process. 

What is the #1 university in the US?

There isn't one single #1 university in the U.S., as rankings vary by source, but Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University consistently appear at the very top, often trading #1 spots in major lists like U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education, and Forbes. 

Is Howard like a Black Harvard?

Howard University has often been referred to as “The Harvard of HBCUs.”

Why is Howard so prestigious?

Howard University is prestigious due to its rich history as a leading HBCU, exceptional alumni network (including trailblazers like Kamala Harris and Thurgood Marshall), strong academic programs (especially in STEM, Law, and Fine Arts), high research activity (R1 potential/status), and its pivotal role in developing Black leadership and intellectual thought, earning it nicknames like "The Mecca" for Black higher education. 

What are the 10 hardest HBCUs to get into?

The hardest Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) to get into often include Spelman College, Howard University, and Florida A&M University (FAMU), known for competitive admissions, alongside others like Tuskegee University, Prairie View A&M University, and Alcorn State University, based on low acceptance rates, though rankings vary slightly by source and year. These institutions attract high application volumes, especially FAMU and North Carolina A&T (NC A&T) for strong STEM programs, making them selective, with Spelman often cited as the most selective overall. 

What is the poorest HBCU?

Spelman College is the least affordable HBCU.

Only one other school — Howard University, a four-year private school in Washington, D.C. — has a net cost above $40,000. Denmark Technical College graduates have the lowest median student loan debt among HBCUs.

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

What HBCU is like Harvard?

Howard University in urban Washington, D.C.—sometimes called the Harvard of HBCUs—has a diverse student body, with 67 percent Black students and a third of its students from other racial backgrounds.

Why are alumni suing Howard University?

The alumni sued the university as they alleged this removal violated Howard's own bylaws. In the appeal, which was decided following an oral argument from the appellants and appellees, Judge Robert L. Wilkins wrote that not every case on Howard's bylaws would be a federal case.

What was Kamala Harris major at Howard University?

At Howard, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the "Divine Nine" historically black sororities. She graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics.

What is a nickname for Howard?

Diminutives include Howie and Ward.