Tuition freeze is a challenge to donors

By Kelvin Childs

Howard University’s announcement that the cost of tuition will not increase next year reflects its commitment to its students. But it comes with a challenge to donors to build on their support.

“For 2026–2027, there will be no increase to undergraduate, graduate, nor professional tuition or mandatory fees. This decision reflects our deep commitment to preserving access to a Howard education while upholding the academic excellence and student experience that define our University,” announced Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, interim president, president emeritus, and Charles R. Drew professor of surgery, on November 25.

Holding the line on tuition comes after a difficult term. The University raised tuition in 2025–2026 to 7.5% above the previous year, but the federal government proposed dropping its funding to 2021 levels and clawing back a $64 million payment.

For Howard students and the families that support them, the year also was difficult. More than 40% of Howard students are Pell Grant-eligible and more than 70% receive some kind of need-based aid, such as grants and scholarships. The federal budget and tax bill titled The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reworked the Pell Grant program, limiting students’ ability to combine Pell Grants with other kinds of aid. It also capped the amount of money that students or their parents can borrow through federal loans. Cuts to federal staffing and the government shutdown also caused students and families budget strains.

Holding the line on tuition eases financial pressure on Howard families and students. It helps keep the University’s tuition below the national average, according to U.S. News & World Report, making it an appealing option for prospective first-year students. But it means the University must shift dollars from other priorities while it oversees increasing numbers of applicants, ever-larger classes, and the necessary facility upgrades and programs to accommodate them. 

Donors can enhance the student experience with gifts to any of the Impact Howard Funds. These unrestricted gifts to specific schools, colleges, scholarships or programs undergird them and allow the University to function at its best. And such giving makes it more feasible to hold off tuition increases. Please give. Impact Howard Funds