Direct costs are items that will appear on your University bill, such as tuition, fees, and room and board (if you live on campus). This is the cost of a Howard University education.
Indirect costs will not appear on your bill, but are estimated costs associated with going to college and should be included in your budget. These include items like books, transportation and personal/miscellaneous expenses.
Detailed descriptions of direct and indirect costs
Direct Costs that appear on your bill from Howard University:
Tuition and Fees: These figures reflect the cost of tuition and fees for a student taking 12-18 credits during each of the fall and spring semesters of the respective academic year (which is considered full- time).
Housing and Meals: The number reflected here is the cost of the most popular meal plan chosen by students who live on campus.
University Mandatory Fees (Breakdown)
- Student Activity- includes student activities, campus health services and other benefits.
- Self Help Fee- student voted fee to establish the student Self Help Emergency Fund. Available for all currently enrolled students.
- Endowment Fee- student voted fee to participate in increasing the University’s endowment ffund.
- Technology Fee- for use of university email, labs, IT services, etc.
- Globalization Fee - funds used at the schools’ discretion to finance the study abroad program. **
- Fee charged in the Fall semester for Undergraduate students only.
- Excess Tuition Fee- assessed if students exceed the maximum allowable credits as determined by each school.
- Orientation Fee- non-refundable mandatory fee for all First Time in College & New Transfers. Funds will be used to offset expenses related to orientation materials, including but not limited to HU backpacks, meals during the one-day session, rental fees, printing, etc. ** $200 fee will be assessed upon students initial term at the University.
- Graduation Fee - covers the cost of the diploma including mailing fees and other expenses associated with graduation.
External Med USMLE Board Exam - Fee (MED) – covers costs associated with taking the United Stated Medical Licensing (USMLE) Exam.
Medicine Mandatory Fee - covers association membership, disability insurance, standardized patient usage, simulation lab usage, and computer program / clinical software.
Dentistry Mandatory Fee – covers association membership, disability insurance, books, instruments, central materials, simulation lab usage, and clinical software.
CIF Exam Fee (DENT) - covers costs associated with taking the Curriculum Integrated Format (CIF) Exam.
Nursing & Allied Health Sciences Mandatory Fee – covers ExamSoft, MedHub, simulation lab usage, association membership, lab supplies, e-books, assessment software, board exam preparation, and credentialing fee.
Pharmacy Mandatory Fee – covers CPR training, Medication Therapy Management Training, Immunization Certification Training, ExamSoft, clinical lab usage, technology support for classrooms and labs, and simulation lab usage.
Communications Mandatory Fee – covers lab supplies and production expenses. Law Mandatory Fee – covers technology use and student activities.
Social Work Mandatory Fee – covers student professional development activity expenses. Divinity Mandatory Fee – covers technology use and student activities costs.
Graduate Certificate Program Fee (GRAD) – covers less than the actual direct cost for administering the program but is offered to students as a credentialing opportunity. It provides educational and support facilities for graduate students, faculty, and support staff to cover materials, travel, or other special costs above normal certificate tuition costs. The fee also offsets cost associated with registration, record keeping and graduation. This fee is separate from the one-time enrollment fee required by the Office of Enrollment Management. The revenue also provides the resources to design, develop, and offer new certificate programs and co-curricula activities. The fee assessed by the Graduate School covers, but not limited to costs associated with: printing for course packs, handouts, etc; technology and research course materials; payment of certificate program directors; and payment of adjunct graduate faculty.
Graduate Development Fee (GRAD) - helps defray associated costs based on the actual usage of an individual student that are not reflected in the regular tuition cost. The fee is assessed to help pay a small portion of the university's overall acquisition and dissemination of resources to registered graduate students. The development fee is used but is not limited to: Providing graduate student with assistance with specific technology costs that may not be supported by the University tuition for specific research and classroom purposes; Assisting with additional classroom instructional costs; Providing expanded computer and research lab expenses; Assisting with conference travel costs and registration both nationally and internationally; Assisting with cost associated with workshops and presentations; Providing professional development programming to graduate students; Providing students with an opportunity to participate in cultural, social, educational, and recreational events throughout the academic year; and Providing biomedical and STEM students with laboratory materials and other research-related expenses.
Indirect Costs that DO NOT appear on your bill from Howard University:
Books and Supplies: This is an estimate of the cost of books and supplies for a typical student for the entire academic year. You will not be billed directly by Howard University for books or supplies. You can purchase these items at the University’s Barnes & Noble bookstore. The supply cost assumes that students do not have a computer, and allows for a student to purchase a personal computer.
Transportation: This is an estimate of the cost of traveling to and from campus or the cost of operating and maintaining a vehicle. The cost also assumes 3 round trips bus/plane tickets to and from campus to your family’s home. Unless you buy a Howard University parking permit, you will not be billed directly for transportation costs. This line item will not appear on your bill.
Personal Expenses: This is an estimate of costs for clothing, haircuts, entertainment, etc. for the year. Money spent on these types of items will vary from student to student. These items will not appear on your Howard University bill.
Average Loan Fees: There is an origination fee of 1.059% for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized student loans, which is taken out of the loan before funds are sent to Howard University. Some of our parents opt to take advantage of the Parent PLUS loan. The fee amount varies with the amount borrowed from the federal government.