Howard University

Collegiate Clothing

Howard University is a private, federally chartered, historically Black research university located in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1867, it was named after General Oliver Otis Howard, a Civil War hero and commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau. From its inception, Howard has been a beacon of opportunity, intellectual rigor, and social justice, welcoming students of all races while maintaining a special commitment to the African American experience.


Academics & Colleges

Howard offers over 120 programs across 14 schools and colleges, granting bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees:

  • College of Arts and Sciences – The academic heart of the university

  • School of Business

  • School of Communications

  • School of Education

  • College of Engineering and Architecture

  • College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences

  • College of Pharmacy

  • College of Dentistry

  • College of Medicine

  • School of Law – A historic leader in civil rights legal education

  • School of Divinity

  • School of Social Work

  • Graduate School

  • School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Howard is classified as an R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity, and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.


Mission & Values

Howard’s motto, Veritas et Utilitas (“Truth and Service”), reflects its enduring commitment to:

  • Academic excellence

  • Leadership development

  • Social justice

  • Global engagement

The university aims to produce graduates who are historically aware, socially conscious, and globally competent, with a strong emphasis on solving human problems both domestically and internationally.


Research & Achievements

Howard is a powerhouse of innovation and scholarship:

  • Top producer of African American Ph.D. recipients in STEM fields

  • Home to nationally ranked programs in medicine, law, social work, business, and communications

  • Over 165 Fulbright recipients, along with Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, and Schwarzman Scholars

  • The Howard University Hospital and Health Sciences division are leaders in addressing health disparities and training physicians for underserved communities


Campus & Facilities

Howard’s urban campus spans over 256 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C., offering a dynamic blend of historic architecture and modern facilities:

  • Howard University Hospital

  • Founders Library – A research hub for African American history

  • Interdisciplinary Research Building

  • School of Law West Campus

  • School of Divinity East Campus

  • Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science

The university also owns a 108-acre tract in Beltsville, Maryland, used for research and expansion.


Student Life & Legacy

With a student body of nearly 13,000, Howard fosters a vibrant and engaged community:

  • NCAA Division I athletics – Competing as the Howard Bison in the MEAC and NEC

  • Hundreds of student organizations, including cultural, academic, and service groups

  • A legacy of activism, including pivotal roles in the Civil Rights Movement, sit-ins, and social justice protests


Notable Alumni

Howard has produced over 100,000 graduates, many of whom have become trailblazers in their fields:

  • Thurgood Marshall – First African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice

  • Toni Morrison – Nobel Prize-winning author

  • Kamala Harris – Vice President of the United States

  • Chadwick Boseman – Acclaimed actor

  • Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) – Civil rights activist and originator of “Black Power”