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UNCW ECU WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill JMU Maryland Tennessee Elon George Washington| Howard University | Appalachian State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Howard | ASU | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Boone, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 13,416 | 21,253 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #249 | #597 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | howard.edu | appstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Howard | ASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $32,878 | $4,242 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,878 | $21,238 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,474 | $12,258 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,028 | $14,712 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,422 | $7,677 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 47% |
Admission |
Howard | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 30,342 | 24,001 | ||
| Admitted | 10,587 | 21,275 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 34.9% | 88.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.4% | 19.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.66 | 3.96 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1298 | 1100/1280 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Howard | ASU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Howard | ASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,800 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 33% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $211 |
Diversity |
Howard | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Extremely Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | Yes | No | ||
| % White | 2% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 91% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Howard | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 1% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 91% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Howard | ASU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Appalachian State University is larger than than Howard based on total student enrollment (21,253 students vs. 13,416 students)
Howard vs. ASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Howard or ASU?
- Howard University is 675.1% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($32,878.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 54.8% higher at Howard than Appalachian State University ($32,878.00 vs. $21,238.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Howard ($14,712 vs. $30,028)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 34.4% lower than costs at Howard University ($12,258 vs. $16,474)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Howard University than Appalachian State University (100% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 179% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($21,422 vs. $7,677)
Howard vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Howard or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or Howard .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 52 points higher than at Howard (1105)
- Incoming ASU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Howard (24)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Howard (3.66)
- ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Howard (34.9%)
Howard vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Howard or ASU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ASU and Howard.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Howard University (65% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Howard University earn on average $10,200 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $41,600)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Howard graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
- ASU graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Howard graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 33%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/