Howard vs. TCNJ

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 8,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); The College of New Jersey is in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; The College of New Jersey 14:1.

Howard vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or TCNJ? 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 The College of New Jersey than Howard ($25,580 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 13.5% lower than at Howard University ($14,976 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 82.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCNJ (about $16,178 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $19,632.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.1% higher at Howard than at The College of New Jersey (about $10,058 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $25,752.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at The College of New Jersey (99% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 59.1% larger than aid received by The College of New Jersey students ($21,262 vs. $13,360).

Howard vs. TCNJ Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of New Jersey (1240) is 30 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Incoming TCNJ students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Howard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; The College of New Jersey 1140/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; The College of New Jersey 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; TCNJ - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
• TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.3%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 19.7% at TCNJ.

Howard vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and TCNJ? 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).

• The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Howard University's (63%).
• Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of New Jersey graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, TCNJ graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($240 vs. $279).
• More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.