Howard vs. Florida Southern

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Florida Southern College is in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Florida Southern College 11:1.

Howard vs. Florida Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Florida Southern? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Southern College than Howard ($29,384 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 17.1% lower than at Howard University ($14,360 vs. $17,322).
• Florida Southern College is 23% more expensive for in-state tuition than Howard (about $8,230 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $35,810.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23% higher at Florida Southern than at Howard University (about $8,230 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $35,810.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College than at Howard University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 47.7% larger than aid received by Howard University students ($31,394 vs. $21,262).

Howard vs. Florida Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or Florida Southern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Florida Southern and Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 30 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Incoming Florida Southern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Howard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Florida Southern College 1150/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Florida Southern College 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Florida Southern - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; Florida Southern May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Howard (3.66).
• Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 11% at Florida Southern.

Howard vs. Florida Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Florida Southern? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Howard University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Florida Southern College's (55%).
• Graduates from Howard University earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Southern College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($24,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Florida Southern graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($248 vs. $279).
• More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.