About Howard University
Howard University is a private nonprofit university in Washington, District of Columbia, in a large city. It enrolls roughly 10,110 undergraduates, most of them full time. It is a historically Black college or university. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 13 to 1.
Nursing programs at Howard University
According to federal completion records, Howard University awards nursing credentials at the bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), master’s degree in nursing (MSN), and doctoral degree in nursing (DNP) levels. A recent year’s totals include about 43 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates and fewer than 5 master’s-level nursing graduates. A bachelor’s program is the traditional four-year route to RN licensure and the usual starting point for later graduate study; see our ADN vs. BSN guide if you are still deciding on a degree level. Graduate options (MSN and DNP) are aimed at licensed nurses moving into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching. That is a relatively small annual graduating class, so ask how many seats open each year.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $38,900 a year. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $33,000 a year. About 41% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $24,800. Federal earnings data puts median pay for those bachelor’s-level nursing graduates at roughly $90,700 one year after finishing and $94,100 four years out. These are estimates for graduates with reported earnings, not a promise. Schoolwide, about 74% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 91% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
Admission is moderately selective, with about 41% of applicants admitted overall, so a solid academic record helps. Nursing programs usually add their own steps, such as prerequisite science courses, an entrance exam, a minimum GPA, and a limited number of seats, so contact the nursing department about current requirements. Our guide on how to get into nursing school walks through the typical process. After graduation, the path to a license goes through the state board of nursing in District of Columbia and the NCLEX exam. Ask the program about its accreditation (ACEN or CCNE) and state approval, and see how it stacks up against other nursing schools in District of Columbia.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.