Grants, Scholarships and Other Opportunities

Scholarships, grants, and fellowship funds are forms of financial aid you do not have to pay back. These types of aid are available from various organizations such as; Senators, Delegates, the federal government, community groups, departments, Howard University, etc.

Deadlines for submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information and other requirements vary, so be sure to read any information provided in detail if you are a domestic student. The International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) is a form that is used to determine need-based eligibility for institutional aid. This application is to be completed by international students only. 

Available to incoming First Time in College Students (FTICs). The HUFS award criteria for incoming freshmen may change every year. No internal application is needed. Eligibility for merit-based awards is determined based on students' SAT/ACT scores/high school GPAs that are entered into our system by the Office of Admissions.

Eligibility for need-based HUFS awards is determined based on a range of students’ Student Aid Index (SAI). FAFSA is required for domestic students. ISFAA is required for international students. Students may accept their HUFS offers by accepting the Terms and Conditions on their Bison Hub portal in addition to signing and submitting the HUFS Acceptance Agreement to the Office of Financial Aid by the designated deadline.

HUFS awards will expire after eight (8) consecutive semesters of enrollment or if the undergraduate student graduates before completing eight (8) consecutive semesters. The full-time earned credits and cumulative GPA requirements are outlined in the eligibility requirements of the individual contracts.

Types of HUFS Awards- students are only able to receive one type of HUFS award below:

• HU Presidential Scholarship
• HU Achievers Scholarship
• HU Founders Scholarship
• HU Capstone Scholarship
• HU Leadership Scholarship
• HU Opportunity Scholarship
• HU Access Scholarship

Review here for information about Scholarships and Grants in Spanish!

Allocations for Transfer scholarships may change every year as well. This means funding may not be available every year for new transfer students. However, transfer students who previously received the Transfer awards may continue to receive them as long as they are meeting the criteria outlined in their contracts for renewal.

To be considered for federal and state scholarships and grants, you will need to complete a FAFSA every year. Each state's FAFSA deadline may vary. The application and state deadlines are listed on studentaid.gov.

Scholarships and Grants

Please be aware, that state grants and scholarships will not be certified until after the census date for each respective academic semester. The Office of Financial Aid will begin the certification process on:

Fall 2024:  September 6, 2024

Spring 2025:  January 31, 2025

Fall 2025: TBD**

Spring 2026: TBD**

** Please check Howard University's 2023 - 2024 Student Handbook periodically as these dates are subject to change.

Scholarships offered and administered by specific academic departments and outside organizations will have varying requirements and deadlines. Contact your academic department chair or the outside organization directly for additional information.

Review here for a list of other external scholarships and scholarships for non-US Citizens