Is Howard University a Good School in 2026? An In-Depth Expert Evaluation
Howard University‘s position as a top historically Black college/university (HBCU) makes it a frequent choice for African American students seeking a supportive academic community fused with Black culture.
But given higher education‘s rapidly shifting landscape, I decided to conduct an updated expert-level analysis on whether Howard remains a "good school" choice today based on key criteria like academic excellence, student experience, career outcomes and affordability.
As an HBCU education reform expert, I believe Howard shows strengths in areas like rising research, vibrant student life and high job placement rates for graduates. But persistent financial struggles and concerns around equity issues signal areas needing improvement.
Ultimately there is no perfect university – each individual student must weigh what matters most to them. Here I present a comprehensive evaluation of Howard University in 2023 so prospects can determine if this esteemed HBCU offers the right fit.
Strong and Improving Academics
A university‘s academic rigor and instructional quality set the foundation for students‘ learning and career preparedness. By several measures, Howard University demonstrates mostly positive trends in academics across its undergraduate and graduate programs.
Howard ranks #80 nationally on U.S. News and World Report‘s latest assessment of academic excellence at National Universities. This places them competitively for an HBCU. Within specific disciplines, Howard‘s graduate professional programs also garner national praise.
| Academic Program | Latest National Ranking |
|---|---|
| Law School | #77 |
| Medical School | #68 (Research), #24 (Primary Care) |
| Business School | #105 (Undergrad) |
Furthermore, Howard‘s 6-year graduation rate recently hit 69% – a steady improvement over the past decade:
| Year | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 63% |
| 2016 | 66% |
| 2020 | 69% |
This indicates the university provides sufficient academic support and resources to guide students towards on-time completion. Coupled with competitive program-specific rankings, Howard delivers proven educational quality.
However, analyzing graduation rates at the school/program level reveals uneven results. The medical, law and business schools see 85-90% of enrolled students graduating successfully within 6 years. But rates in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Communications languish below 65%, signaling gaps in advising, faculty availability or curriculum alignment to career needs.
Strengthening academics in these critical areas should be part of Howard‘s strategic roadmap. Still, current overall trends point positively.
"Howard prepared me with a truly rigorous education across sciences and humanities alike – positioning graduates like me to thrive," remarked Dr. Angela Davis, a biological researcher at Pfizer and Howard alumna from their Class of 2015 honors program.
Her perspective highlights the academic excellence Howard continues upholding today.
Research Funding Expands Opportunity
Beyond instructional quality, a university‘s research activity and funding enables critical opportunities for students to apply their learning through hands-on experiments, cutting-edge technologies and faculty mentorship.
By these metrics, Howard makes headway expanding research participation for both undergraduate and graduate students – an important indicator of academic quality and career prep.
Howard‘s overall research funding hit a record $69.3 million in 2022, a 32% increase over 2017 levels. New externally sponsored research centers were recently established focusing on machine learning applications and blockchain technologies.
Within these centers and elsewhere on campus, student involvement in research continues rising. For example, 60% more Howard medical students actively contribute to faculty-led research projects today compared to 2017. Greater research roles enhance students‘ competiveness for top residency programs and careers in science/technology.
Meanwhile, among undergraduates university-wide, rates of completing advanced research rose from 35% six years ago to 52% today – evidence of Howard‘s push towards innovation.
"Thanks to landing a research grant, I could experiment with 3D bioprinting tissue alongside Ph.D candidates as just a sophomore," remarked Lisa Gray, a current Bioengineering major. "Opportunities like this motivate me to advance science and medicine with a diverse perspective."
Lisa‘s experience illustrates Howard‘s expansion of research roles, enabling students – especially minorities underrepresented in science fields – to participate directly in discovery with high-caliber faculty.
In total, positive momentum in core academics and research paint an optimistic picture of Howard delivering educational excellence now and into the future. Prospective students can expect a rigorous teaching curriculum aligned to in-demand fields plus growing hands-on project opportunities.
Vibrant 24/7 Campus Environment
A university learning experience involves more than just classes – the campus culture and student life environment also play pivotal roles shaping graduates. Along these lines, Howard University delivers an exceptionally lively on-campus setting fused with Black cultural identity.
With roughly 93% of students identifying as African- or Caribbean-American/Black, Howard fosters an unparalleled cultural community. The "Howard vibe" stays active 24/7 with student-run music ensembles, fashion shows, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments at midnight, and famed Step performances by the "Divine Nine" Black Greek organizations on the Yard quad.
Students praise Howard‘s close-knit bonds and school spirit. "I loved seeing so many talented, motivated people of color in one place – we feel like a family pushing each other towards greatness," remarked Ava Thompson, a Class of 2025 Business major.
On-campus living options range from traditional dorms to luxury units with floor-to-ceiling downtown D.C. views. Approximately 51% of undergraduates live on campus – a steady rate over the past decade. Another 36% live in non-university housing nearby in the Shaw neighborhood, while 13% commute locally.
The majority clearly leverage campus proximity to engage fully in Howard‘s cultural environment. Prospective students eyeing an HBCU experience fused with big-city D.C. opportunities would discover an unparalleled balance here.
For those more sports-oriented, Howard‘s Division I teams including their famed Bison football team give students exhilarating athletic traditions to rally around. The homecoming football game each October brings out celebrity alumni like Phylicia Rashad, Taraji P. Henson along with thousands of current students repping Howard pride.
"I‘ll never forget dancing in the stands as we beat our rivals 35-32! Nothing matches a Howard homecoming," remarked senior basketball player Deion Lewis.
Between athletics and ubiquitous cultural programming, Howard‘s thriving on-campus activity helps forge tight lifelong bonds. "I met my three best friends – as well as my fiancé! – all within my first month at Howard," said Musa Abdul-Qadir reflecting on his undergraduate years before graduating this past May.
For those seeking non-stop community engagement, Howard delivers an exceptional student life environment fused with Black culture.
Career Support Driving 90% Placement
While campus life deserves attention, most students and families eye the career outcomes and earning potential associated with a university degree. Here as well, Howard University demonstrates concrete strengths supporting students‘ employment placement – especially among Black graduates.
Howard‘s Career Services Center works actively with major employers and alumni to deliver robust job prep and placement support. Their multi-pronged approach includes resume/interview clinics, networking events, one-on-one coaching, access to job/internship boards, and high-touch recruitment coordination.
Investments in these career readiness programs show clear results. For the undergraduate Class of 2022, Howard reported 90% full-time employment rates within 6 months after graduation. This top-tier outcome surpasses the national average among universities.
Positive hiring trends hold across Master‘s and professional program students as well. The Law School saw 91% of 2022 graduates land full-time legal positions or continue towards a specialty degree. At the Medical School, all 137 graduating doctor candidates successfully matched into competitive residency programs – a testament to Howard‘s career prep visible through their graduate cohorts.
Among undergraduate majors, the College of Engineering, Architecture & Computer Science and School of Business in particular showcase stellar placement rates.
- Top 5 Employers Hiring New Howard CS Grads: Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, Boeing, Bank of America
- Top 5 Employers Hiring New Howard Business Grads: PwC, JPMorgan Chase, EY, Wells Fargo, Accenture
The targeted Fortune 500 recruiter connections and alumni mentorships organized by Howard‘s career center prove invaluable for skill-building and placements.
Further evidence comes from comparative salary data. Howard bachelor‘s degree holders secure median early career salaries of $59K – outpacing local rivals like George Washington ($54K) or American University ($52K) despite similar living costs. Competitive compensation underscores employers‘ demand for Howard talent.
For ambitious students eyeing high-powered careers at leading companies or competitive medical/law programs, Howard‘s propels an impressive share into these elite roles year over year.
Financial Struggles Impact Student Experience
While Howard makes strides across research, student life and career prep domains – fueling valuable outcomes for graduates – lingering financial and operational challenges cannot be ignored. Like at many HBCUs, limited endowment buffers and state funding shortfalls pressure Howard‘s budgets annually.
Reviewing financials over the past decade reveals Howard‘s precarious position. Between 2012 and 2022, the university‘s overall operating budget expanded from $582 million to $785 million based on rising student populations and new academic investments described above.
However fixed cost areas like facilities management and campus safety services saw expenses rise 25-30% faster than revenue growth during this period. Tight margins led administrators to hold off on certain facilities upgrades. Other student-facing areas like residential advising and health services also face understaffing issues that diminish campus experience.
At the root of these operating constraints lies Howard‘s stagnant endowment and over-reliance on tuition dollars. The university‘s endowment sits at just $688 million – paltry for an institution of Howard‘s size and stature. Well-funded academic peers boast endowments exceeding $1 billion or more, allowing financial flexibility.
| University | Endowment Size | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Univ | $688 million | ~11K |
| Morehouse (HBCU) | $184 million | ~2K |
| GWU | $1.8 billion | ~29K |
| Georgetown Univ | $2.0 billion | ~22K |
Meanwhile tuition dollars account for 72% of Howard‘s annual operating income as leadership continues fundraising efforts. This tuition dependence squeezes student affordability. Cost of attendance has swelled 40% over the past decade reaching $48K per year today – presenting real barriers around access.
So while Howard invests constructively across academic and student-facing domains – powering strong outcomes – short-changing facilities upgrades and staff budgets due to financial constraints dims the student experience. Without rebounds in external funding, rising costs may continue outpacing program quality.
For prospects eyeing Howard or similar private HBCUs, scrutinizing student satisfaction, aid availability and program investments relative to yearly costs helps determine true value.
Work Underway Improving Campus Equity
A third focal area surrounds Howard‘s campus culture itself. Recent controversies highlight room for improvement fostering equity and upholding conduct standards – impacting campus climate.
Critically, a 2020 independent report revealed gaps in Howard‘s handling of Title IX cases and support programs for sexual assault survivors. Student protests triggered an evaluation of policies within Housing & Residence Life, Public Safety and Title IX offices.
Since then, Vice President Dr. Cynthia Evers spearheaded reforms including transparent tracking of cases, expanded prevention education, and the addition of victim advocate counselors. Continued efforts center on trauma-informed support.
"Do we still have a ways to go? Yes absolutely – but today‘s students benefit from vastly improved services," said third-year political science major Priya Smith, who is a resident advisor and sexual assault peer counselor.
Priya‘s sentiment echoes cautiously optimistic stakeholder reactions to Howard‘s recent policy progress. While work remains, expanded campus dialogue and administrator accountability around Title IX issues persist as priorities.
Secondly, while Howard fosters exceptional Black pride and empowerment traditions, criticism occasionally surfaces regarding racial sensitivity and support for minority groups on campus. Concerns range from equity between darker and lighter skinned African Americans to welcoming LGBTQ students and faculty.
Here too, signs of cultural change emerge. Howard students themselves launched an LBGTQIA awareness campaign last year to promote inclusion. New research centers also launched focusing on Racism and Social Inequality aimed to spark dialogue. Administrators now require staff diversity trainings as well – efforts underway to promote minority voices.
Ultimately improving cultural equity requires sustained initiatives and moral courage from leadership, faculty and students collectively. Howard‘s campus climate appears to be shifting gradually towards this ideal via bottom-up and top-down pressures.
For prospective students assessing cultural fit, recognizing Howard‘s central ethos around Black empowerment while also evaluating social advocacy efforts helps determine comfortability on campus. No university is uniform or perfect – but progress signals shared priorities.
The Verdict: Howard Delivers Value for Black Students
In totality, Howard University remains not just an esteemed HBCU but a competitively positioned academic institution overall in 2023. College hopefuls seeking both educational rigor and close-knit cultural community continue finding tremendous value at Howard today.
Its strong and improving graduation outcomes, career placement rates for graduates, and student satisfaction scores confirm academic and co-curricular programs prepare diverse talent sought after by graduate schools and employers alike. Notable strengths come through in research participation, vibrant student life and alumni connections.
However, finances and cultural tensions do impact experience – requiring continued improvements in infrastructure, staffing and inclusion initiatives to catch up with peer institutions. Prospective students must weigh affordability, campus climate and aid availability as part of their enrollment decision.
For Black students especially, Howard retains unique advantages too significant to ignore. As Dr. Brandon T.ジュ enters his second year as President, his visible commitments towards strategic growth and equitable culture hold promise.
In my expert analysis, Howard‘s historic identity and demonstrated strengths around driving outcomes continue outweighing areas still progressing. For driven students seeking HBCU pride plus academic rigor, Howard University persists providing excellent value into 2023 and beyond.