Howard vs. Franciscan

Deciding between Howard University and Franciscan University of Steubenville? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Howard University
Franciscan University of Steubenville

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Howard Washington, DC
  • Franciscan Steubenville, OH
  • Setting
  • Howard Large City
  • Franciscan Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Howard 14,890
  • Franciscan 3,976
  • Type
  • Howard Private 4 Year
  • Franciscan Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Howard #310
  • Franciscan #473
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Howard -
  • Franciscan Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Howard Non-profit
  • Franciscan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Howard
  • Franciscan
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • Franciscan $34,100
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • Franciscan $34,100
  • Room & Board
  • Howard $17,322
  • Franciscan $10,000
  • Average Net Price
  • Howard $33,368
  • Franciscan $23,086
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Howard $21,262
  • Franciscan $21,522
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Howard 99%
  • Franciscan 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Howard 34,211
  • Franciscan 2,968
  • Admitted
  • Howard 14,144
  • Franciscan 1,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Howard 41.3%
  • Franciscan 58.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Howard 19.4%
  • Franciscan 41.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Howard 1210
  • Franciscan 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Howard 25
  • Franciscan 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Howard 3.66
  • Franciscan 3.78
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Howard A-
  • Franciscan A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Howard Challenging
  • Franciscan Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Howard Low
  • Franciscan Low
  • ACT Range
  • Howard 22/28
  • Franciscan 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Howard 1090/1320
  • Franciscan 1110/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Howard Test optional
  • Franciscan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Howard Feb 15, 2027
  • Franciscan
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Howard 13:1
  • Franciscan 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Howard
    • Business (20%)
    • Communication (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Franciscan
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (30%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Howard 63%
  • Franciscan 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Howard $51,800
  • Franciscan $39,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Howard 33%
  • Franciscan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Howard $27,000
  • Franciscan $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Howard $279
  • Franciscan $227
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Howard 30%
  • Franciscan 47%
  • % Women
  • Howard 70%
  • Franciscan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Howard Very Low
  • Franciscan Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Howard Yes
  • Franciscan No
  • % White
  • Howard 2%
  • Franciscan 83%
  • % Asian
  • Howard 1%
  • Franciscan 2%
  • % Black
  • Howard 91%
  • Franciscan 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Howard 0%
  • Franciscan 10%
  • % Native American
  • Howard 1%
  • Franciscan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Howard 0%
  • Franciscan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Howard 0%
  • Franciscan 2%
  • % International
  • Howard 5%
  • Franciscan 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Howard 0%
  • Franciscan 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Howard 2%
  • Franciscan 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Howard 94%
  • Franciscan 80%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Howard Yes
  • Franciscan Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Howard Yes
  • Franciscan No
  • Meal Plan
  • Howard Yes
  • Franciscan Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Howard No
  • Franciscan No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Howard No
  • Franciscan No

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Franciscan based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 3,976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Franciscan University of Steubenville is in Steubenville, OH (Small City setting).
  • Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Franciscan University of Steubenville 17:1.

Howard vs. Franciscan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Franciscan? 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 Franciscan University of Steubenville than Howard ($23,086 vs. $33,368).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franciscan University of Steubenville are 42.3% lower than at Howard University ($10,000 vs. $17,322).
  • Howard University is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Franciscan (about $1,710 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $34,100.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Howard than at Franciscan University of Steubenville (about $1,710 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $34,100.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Howard University as at Franciscan University of Steubenville (99% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franciscan University of Steubenville students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Howard University students ($21,522 vs. $21,262).

Howard vs. Franciscan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or Franciscan? 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 Franciscan and Howard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franciscan University of Steubenville (1230) is 20 points higher than at Howard (1210).
  • Incoming Howard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Franciscan (25).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Franciscan University of Steubenville 1110/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Franciscan University of Steubenville 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Franciscan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Franciscan students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Howard (3.66).
  • Franciscan has a higher acceptance rate (58.4%) than Howard (41.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 41.7% at Franciscan.

Howard vs. Franciscan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Franciscan? 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).

  • Franciscan University of Steubenville's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Howard University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Howard University earn a median of about $12,000 more per year than Franciscan graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Franciscan graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More Franciscan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.