Howard University SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Last Updated: November 2, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Among first-years who enrolled at Howard in fall 2025, the SAT middle 50 is 1050 to 1270 and the ACT middle 50 is 20 to 26, with medians of 1150 SAT and 23 ACT and an average high school GPA of 3.68, per Howard's 2025-26 Common Data Set.
• Howard is test-optional for students applying now for fall 2027, except for joint degree programs such as BS/MD. If you do send scores, only official scores from the testing agency count; self-reported scores are not considered.
• For fall 2025, Howard admitted about 42 percent of first-year applicants (15,724 of 37,270), per its Common Data Set.
• Howard is a private research university and HBCU in Washington, DC, often called "the Mecca," with more than a dozen schools and colleges and a deep tradition of producing Black professional, political, and cultural leaders.
• Howard's HUFS scholarships need no separate application. Merit-based eligibility is set from SAT or ACT scores and high school GPA, and Howard does not publish the cutoffs.

What SAT or ACT Score Do You Need for Howard?

Howard does not publish a competitive minimum and uses a holistic review. Its official admission profile still shows an older class (labeled the Class of 2025), so the table below uses Howard's 2025-26 Common Data Set, which covers first-year students who enrolled in fall 2025 and submitted scores:

Half of the fall 2025 enrolled first-years who sent scores sit inside 1050 to 1270 on the SAT and 20 to 26 on the ACT (47 percent of that class sent the SAT and 15 percent the ACT). Practical target: aim for a 1150 SAT or a 23 ACT to reach the middle of that group. A 1270 or 26 puts you at its 75th percentile. Howard's older admission profile (Class of 2025) lists enrolled averages of 1184 SAT, 24 ACT and a 3.66 unweighted GPA, with 10,362 acceptances from 29,391 applications (35 percent).

Howard's admission profile page explicitly notes that these academic figures "do not represent the minimum GPA required for admission" or "minimum scores required for admission." In its Common Data Set, Howard rates course rigor, GPA and test scores very important and character and personal qualities important.

Howard Is Test-Optional

Howard's first-year admission page says SAT and ACT scores are not required for the 2026-27 admission cycle (students starting in fall 2027). Three implications for your application:

• You choose whether to submit scores. Howard says students who do not submit scores will not be at a disadvantage. The policy covers the Karsh STEM program but not joint degree programs such as BS/MD, BS/DDS and BA/JD.
• Test scores still matter for HUFS merit aid. Howard says merit-based Howard University Freshman Scholarship (HUFS) eligibility is set from SAT or ACT scores and high school GPA, and that scholarship decisions are adjusted for students who apply without scores.
• Only official scores count. Howard considers only scores sent by the testing agency (SAT code 5297, ACT code 0674). Self-reported scores, counselor score reports and scores on transcripts are not considered, and Howard says it does not superscore the ACT.

If your scores are at or above the fall 2025 enrolled median (1150+ SAT or 23+ ACT), submitting usually makes sense. If they fall below the 25th percentile (under 1050 SAT or 20 ACT), applying test-optional is often the better play. Howard does not publish the score cutoffs for its scholarships.

Howard's Schools and Colleges

Howard is a private research university with more than a dozen schools and colleges. The structure shapes how applicants present themselves:

• College of Arts and Sciences: The largest undergraduate school. Broad liberal arts and sciences foundation.
• School of Business: Undergraduate business majors.
• College of Engineering and Architecture: Strong on math and science rigor expectations. Architecture program features studio-based curriculum.
• School of Communications: Programs in journalism, broadcasting, film, and PR.
• College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences: Nursing and allied health programs.
• College of Pharmacy: Pharmacy programs.
• School of Education: Education and human development programs.
• School of Social Work: Graduate programs (MSW and Ph.D.), not a first-year entry point.
• Other professional schools (Dentistry, Medicine, Law, Divinity): Primarily graduate or professional, but Howard's pipeline produces a meaningful share of Black doctors, dentists, lawyers, and theologians in the country.

If you are aiming at a particular school, say why in your writing. Howard requires the main Common App essay and offers one optional Howard essay in the Common App's Writing section.

Howard University Freshman Scholarships (HUFS)

Howard's merit aid pipeline is structured around the Howard University Freshman Scholarship (HUFS) program. No separate scholarship application is required. Howard's financial aid office says merit-based eligibility is determined from the SAT or ACT scores and high school GPA that the Office of Admissions enters, and need-based eligibility from the Student Aid Index (SAI). It lists seven HUFS awards and says the criteria may change each year:

Three things to know about HUFS:

• No separate application. A FAFSA is required for domestic students and an ISFAA for international students. Howard says Early Action and Early Decision admits who meet the requirements receive scholarship awards with their late December decision.
• One award per student. Students can receive only one type of HUFS award.
• Renewal requires academic performance. HUFS awards are renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters, and the earned credit and cumulative GPA requirements are set in each student's award contract.

Because Howard does not publish HUFS cutoffs, the offer itself is the only reliable answer to what you will receive. File the FAFSA (or ISFAA) either way, and look at federal Pell Grants, state aid, and outside scholarships alongside it.

The Howard Experience: "The Mecca" and HBCU Heritage

Founded in 1867, Howard sits in the heart of Washington, DC, and describes itself as among the highest producers of the nation's Black professionals in fields from medicine and law to engineering and education:

• Notable alumni: Thurgood Marshall (first Black Supreme Court justice), Toni Morrison (Nobel Prize in Literature), Kamala Harris (former Vice President), Chadwick Boseman, Phylicia Rashad, Stokely Carmichael.
• Research: Howard says it produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.
• DC location. Howard's proximity to Capitol Hill, federal agencies, and the World Bank produces a strong internship and career pipeline in policy, government, and law.
• Student life: Strong Greek life tradition (Howard is the founding chapter of several Black Greek organizations), Howard University Marching Band ("Showtime"), and an active campus culture rooted in Black excellence.

For applicants seeking an HBCU experience with national reach, Howard's combination of a Washington DC location and more than a dozen schools makes it especially well-positioned for students targeting policy, law, journalism, business, and the professions.

Howard Application Deadlines

For fall 2027 entry, Howard runs binding Early Decision, non-binding Early Action, and Regular Decision, per its first-year admission page:

Two strategic notes:

• The early rounds have closed. Students applying now use Regular Decision by February 1, 2027. Howard counts December as the last test date for Regular Decision: the December 5 SAT (register by November 20) or the December 12 ACT (register by November 6, late by November 29). A complete file with no official scores by the deadline is decided on what is on file.
• Apply via the Common Application. Howard takes first-year applications through the Common App, with a $45 fee (it accepts the Common App fee waiver). It requires the main Common App essay, a counselor letter and a teacher letter, and offers one optional Howard essay.

Howard GPA Requirements and Course Rigor

Howard's fall 2025 enrolled first-years averaged a 3.68 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale, per its Common Data Set. Howard recommends this college preparatory coursework and says it puts the emphasis on a well-rounded curriculum rather than the exact years:

• English: 4 years.
• Math: 3 years.
• Science: 2 years (with lab).
• Social science: 2 years.
• Foreign language: 2 years of the same language.

Howard's Common Data Set rates the rigor of your high school record very important, so AP, IB, dual enrollment, or honors coursework where your school offers it strengthens the file.

What Howard Weighs Beyond Test Scores

Howard's holistic review considers academic and personal factors. Here is how its 2025-26 Common Data Set rates them:

1. GPA and course rigor. Both very important.
2. Standardized test scores (when submitted). Very important, and used in HUFS merit review. Students who apply without scores are not at a disadvantage, Howard says.
3. Character and personal qualities. Important.
4. Essays. Considered. The main Common App essay is required and one Howard essay is optional.
5. Activities, talent, volunteer and work experience. Considered.
6. Recommendations. Considered. Howard requires two letters, one from a counselor and one from a teacher, and says only two will generally be considered.
7. Level of applicant's interest. Considered.

Howard's Common Data Set lists interviews as not considered.

A Realistic Prep Plan for Howard-Level Scores

If Howard is your target and your current practice SAT is 1000 or ACT is 19, here is a workable pathway to the enrolled middle 50 and a stronger HUFS review:

1. Sophomore spring to junior summer. Take one timed official Bluebook SAT and one ACT. Pick whichever scores higher in percentile.
2. Junior fall. Begin structured prep, two to three hours per week, with full timed tests every two to three weeks. Focus on your weakest section first.
3. Junior spring. First official sitting. Lock in your strongest section. Aim for at least the fall 2025 enrolled 25th percentile (1050 SAT or 20 ACT) by this point.
4. Summer before senior year. Heavy prep window. Push past the enrolled median (1150 SAT or 23 ACT). Merit HUFS eligibility is set from scores and GPA, so a higher score can only help that review.
5. Fall of senior year. Second official sitting. Howard counts October as the last test date for its November 1 early rounds and December as the last for Regular Decision.

Score targets to anchor on, from fall 2025 enrolled first-years: 1050 SAT or 20 ACT for the 25th percentile, 1150 SAT or 23 ACT for the median, and 1270 SAT or 26 ACT for the 75th percentile. Howard does not publish the score cutoffs for its HUFS awards.

For adaptive practice, try the Larry Learns SAT platform or the Larry Learns ACT platform. If you are still deciding which test fits you, see our SAT vs ACT guide, and use the SAT score calculator to convert raw practice scores. For section-specific prep, our SAT math topics and ACT math topics guides break down what each test covers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Howard SAT and ACT Scores

What is the average SAT score for Howard University?

Among first-years who enrolled in fall 2025 and sent the SAT, the median was 1150 and the middle 50 percent range was 1050 to 1270, per Howard's 2025-26 Common Data Set. Howard's older admission profile (Class of 2025) lists an average of 1184 for enrolled students.

What is the average ACT score for Howard University?

Among first-years who enrolled in fall 2025 and sent the ACT, the median composite was 23 and the middle 50 percent range was 20 to 26, per Howard's 2025-26 Common Data Set. Its older admission profile (Class of 2025) lists an average of 24.

What are Howard's SAT requirements?

Howard is test-optional for fall 2027 applicants, except for joint degree programs such as BS/MD. There is no published minimum SAT; fall 2025 enrolled first-years had an SAT middle 50 of 1050 to 1270. If you send the SAT, only official scores from College Board (code 5297) count; self-reported scores are not considered.

What are Howard's ACT requirements?

Howard is test-optional for fall 2027 applicants. Fall 2025 enrolled first-years had an ACT middle 50 of 20 to 26. Only official scores from ACT (code 0674) count, and Howard says it does not superscore the ACT. Merit HUFS eligibility is set from test scores and GPA.

Is Howard test-optional?

Yes, for students applying for fall 2027 (the 2026-27 cycle). Howard says students who do not submit scores will not be at a disadvantage in admission, and that scholarship decisions that rely on academic evidence are adjusted for them. The policy does not cover joint degree programs such as BS/MD, BS/DDS and BA/JD.

What GPA do I need for Howard?

Howard does not publish a minimum. First-years who enrolled in fall 2025 averaged a 3.68 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale, and half had a 3.75 or higher, per Howard's 2025-26 Common Data Set. Its Common Data Set rates GPA and course rigor very important.

What is Howard's acceptance rate?

About 42 percent for fall 2025: Howard admitted 15,724 of 37,270 first-year applicants, per its 2025-26 Common Data Set. Its older admission profile page (Class of 2025) shows 35 percent, 10,362 acceptances from 29,391 applications.

What is the Howard University Freshman Scholarship (HUFS)?

HUFS is Howard's scholarship program for incoming first-time college students, with no separate application. Merit-based eligibility is determined from SAT or ACT scores and high school GPA, and need-based eligibility from the Student Aid Index. The seven awards are the HU Presidential, Achievers, Founders, Capstone, Leadership, Opportunity and Access Scholarships, and a student can receive only one of them.

What scores do I need for the Capstone or Founders Scholarship?

Howard does not publish them. Its financial aid office says merit-based HUFS eligibility comes from the SAT or ACT scores and high school GPA that admissions enters, that the criteria may change each year, and that renewal requirements are set in each award contract.

When are the Howard application deadlines?

For fall 2027 entry, Early Decision (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) were both due November 1, 2026, with decisions in late December. Regular Decision is February 1, 2027, with all documents due the same day and decisions in early April. Howard takes applications through the Common Application.

Does Howard offer Early Decision?

Yes. Howard offers binding Early Decision alongside non-binding Early Action, both due November 1. An ED admit must withdraw other applications, but Howard says ED applicants seeking aid need not withdraw until they hear about financial aid, and enrollment is not required if Howard has not met an admitted ED student's full financial need.

What schools and colleges does Howard have?

Howard has more than a dozen schools and colleges. Undergraduate-focused units include the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, College of Engineering and Architecture, School of Communications, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, and School of Education. Howard also operates graduate and professional schools, including Social Work, Dentistry, Medicine, Law, Divinity, and Graduate Studies.

Why is Howard called "the Mecca"?

"The Mecca" is a longstanding nickname for Howard reflecting its central role as a gathering place for Black intellectual, cultural, and political life. Notable alumni include Thurgood Marshall, Toni Morrison, Kamala Harris, Chadwick Boseman, and Phylicia Rashad.

How does Howard compare to other HBCUs?

Compare each school on its own Common Data Set, since admit rates and score ranges change every year. Howard's fall 2025 figures: about 42 percent admitted and an enrolled SAT middle 50 of 1050 to 1270. Its defining differences are its DC location, its more than a dozen schools and colleges, and the depth of its national alumni network, and Howard says it produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.