Howard vs. Warren Wilson

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Warren Wilson based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 791 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Warren Wilson College is in Swannanoa, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Warren Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Warren Wilson College 12:1.

Howard vs. Warren Wilson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Warren Wilson? 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 Warren Wilson College than Howard ($26,084 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Warren Wilson College are 24.7% lower than at Howard University ($13,050 vs. $17,322).
• Warren Wilson College is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Howard (about $5,690 more per year; $41,500.00 vs. $35,810.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.9% higher at Warren Wilson than at Howard University (about $5,690 more per year; $41,500.00 vs. $35,810.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Warren Wilson College than at Howard University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Warren Wilson College students is 45.3% larger than aid received by Howard University students ($30,887 vs. $21,262).

Howard vs. Warren Wilson Admissions comparison

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

• Incoming Howard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Warren Wilson (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Warren Wilson College 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Warren Wilson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; Warren Wilson Jul 3, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Warren Wilson (3.6).
• Warren Wilson has a higher acceptance rate (71.3%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 17.9% at Warren Wilson.

Howard vs. Warren Wilson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Warren Wilson? 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 Warren Wilson College's (45%).
• Graduates from Howard University earn a median of about $21,000 more per year than Warren Wilson graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $30,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Warren Wilson College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($23,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Warren Wilson graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($237 vs. $279).
• More Warren Wilson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.