Department of Education

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language .........................................................................................................1

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes........................................................................ 1

Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers .............................................................................. 2

Summary of Changes ..............................................................................................................4

Authorizing Legislation.............................................................................................................5

Appropriations History..............................................................................................................6

Activity: ....................................................................................................................................7

Howard University ............................................................................................................. 7
1 

Appropriations Language

For partial support of Howard University, $297,018,000, of which not less than $3,405,000 

shall be for a matching endowment grant pursuant to the Howard University Endowment Act 

and shall remain available until expended.

1

NOTES 

A full-year 2024 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, 

the budget assumes this account is operating under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions 

Act (Division A of Public Law 118-15, as amended). The amounts included for 2024 reflect the annualized level 

provided by the continuing resolution.

Each language provision that is followed by a footnote reference is explained in the Analysis of Language 

Provisions and Changes document that follows the appropriations language.

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes

Language Provision Explanation

1 ...of which not less than $3,405,000 shall 

be for a matching endowment grant 

pursuant to the Howard University 

Endowment Act and shall remain available 

until expended. 

This language establishes a minimum funding 

level for the endowment program. 

Endowment funds would remain available for 

obligation until expended.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

2 

Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation/Adjustments/Transfers 2023 2024 2025 

Discretionary:

Discretionary budget authority: Appropriation $354,018 0 $297,018

Discretionary budget authority: Annualized CR 0 $354,018 0

Total budget authority: Total, discretionary appropriation 354,018 354,018 297,018 
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2024 Annualized CR $354,018

2025 297,018

Net change -57,000

Discretionary: 2024 base

Change

from base

Decrease:

Program:

The Administration is expected to fully meet the 

University’s overall request of $300 million to support 

construction of a new Howard University Hospital in fiscal 

year 2025. Congress appropriated $7 million in fiscal year 

2021 to begin work to modernize the Hospital’s facilities; 

$100 million was appropriated by Congress in each of 

fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to support hospital 

construction. Assuming the fiscal year 2024 Senate level 

of $50 million is enacted, the Administration’s request of 

$43 million for fiscal year 2025 will complete the 

University’s $300 million overall request for this project. $354,018 -$57,000

Subtotal, decrease -57,000

Net change -57,000
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

5 

Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2024

Authorized

2024

Annualized CR Footnote

2025

Authorized

2025

Request

General support (20 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) Indefinite $226,693 1

Indefinite $226,693

Endowment program (P.L. 98-480) (2) (3) (2) (3)

Howard University Hospital (20 U.S.C. 128) Indefinite 27,325 Indefinite 27,325

 Construction of new hospital 100,000 43,000

Total appropriation 354,018 297,018

1 The University has discretion to allocate funds for activities authorized under the general statute for Howard University.

2 Title II of P.L. 98-480, the Howard University Endowment Act, authorized $2,000 thousand in fiscal year 1985 to establish an endowment program. Subsequent 

year appropriations language has authorized minimum funding levels for the endowment program under the terms and conditions of the Act. 3 For fiscal year 2024, the University must allocate at least 3,405 thousand for the endowment program. In addition, for fiscal year 2025, the Administration 

requests that not less than $3,405 thousand be allocated to the endowment program.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands) 

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance FootnoteAppropriation 

20161 $221,821 $221,821 $219,500 $221,821

20172 221,821 221,821 221,821 221,821

20183 220,314 221,821 221,821 232,518

20194 221,821 232,518 236,518 236,518

20205 221,821 250,000 236,518 240,018

2020 Supplemental, CARES Act 

(P.L. 116-136)6 0 0 0 13,000

20217 240,018 254,018 244,018 251,018

2021 Supplemental, CRRSA Act 

(P.L. 116-260)8 0 0 0 20,000

2021 Mandatory Supplemental, 

ARP Act (P.L. 117-02)9 0 0 0 35,000

202210 261,018 411,018 311,018 344,018

202311 311,018 394,018 359,018 354,018

202412 347,018 301,693 304,018 354,018

2025 297,018

1 The levels for House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2016 appropriations bill, which 

proceeded in the 114th Congress only through the House Committee and Senate Committee.

2 The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2017 appropriations 

bill; the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017.

3 The level for the House allowance reflects floor action on the Omnibus appropriations bill; the Senate allowance 

reflects Committee action on the regular annual 2018 appropriations bill; the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141). 4 The levels for the House and Senate allowance reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2019 appropriations 

bill; the Appropriation reflects enactment of the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and 

Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 115-245). 5 The Senate allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflect the Further Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94). 6 The Appropriation reflects the supplemental funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 

(P.L. 116-136). 7 The level for the Senate allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflects Division H of the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). 8 The Appropriation reflects supplemental funds from Division M of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 

(P.L. 116-260). 9 The Appropriation reflects the American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (P.L. 117-02). 10 The House allowance reflects floor action on the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act; the Senate allowance 

reflects the Chairman’s mark; and the Appropriation reflects Division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 

(P.L. 117-103). 11 The House allowance reflects the regular annual FY 2023 appropriation, which was introduced on the floor; the 

Sente allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; and the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

2023 (P.L. 117-328). 12 The House allowance reflects Subcommittee action and the Senate allowance reflects Committee action on the 

regular annual 2024 appropriations bill; the Appropriation reflects the annualized continuing resolution level.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Activity:

Howard University 

(20 U.S.C. 121, et seq.)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2025 Authorization: Indefinite

Budget Authority:

Budget Authority 2024 Annualized CR 2025 Request Change

General Support1 $226,693 $226,693 0

Howard University Hospital 27,325 27,325 0

Subtotal 254,018 254,018 0 

Construction of New Hospital 100,000 43,000 -$57,000

Total 354,018 297,018 -57,000

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Howard University (University) was federally chartered in 1867 as a private, nonprofit 

educational institution in Washington, DC. As a comprehensive, research-oriented historically 

Black university, the University’s mission is to provide an educational experience of exceptional 

quality at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. The University has an enduring 

commitment to the education and advancement of underserved populations in America and the 

global community, and it ranks among the highest producers of the nation’s Black professionals 

in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, nursing, architecture, religion, law, music, social 

work, and education. The National Science Foundation consistently ranks the University among 

the highest producers of Black Ph.D. students. According to data from the Association of 

American Medical Colleges, the University is the nation’s most prolific source of Black 

graduates who go on to apply to medical school.

The University offers more than 120 fields of study leading to undergraduate, graduate, and 

professional degrees within 13 schools and colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, 

Communications, Dentistry, Divinity, Education, Engineering and Architecture, Graduate School, 

Law, Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy, and Social Work. A wide range 

of administrative, library, computer, and technology resources and services support these 

programs. Together, these investments further the University’s goals of expanding the 

opportunities of graduates, especially in fields in which they are still underserved. 

Howard University Hospital — Established in 1862 as Freedmen’s Hospital, Howard 

University Hospital (Hospital) was incorporated into the University by Congress in 1962. Today, 

the Hospital is a general medical and surgical facility and is designated as a Level 1 Trauma

1 The University has discretion to allocate funds for activities authorized under the general statute for Howard 

University. However, the 2024 annualized CR directs the University to allocate $3,405 thousand for the endowment 

program. The Administration proposes the same language for 2025.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Center. The 241-bed hospital is one of several comprehensive health care facilities serving the 

Washington, DC metropolitan area, with over 11,000 admissions and 60,000 emergency room 

visits annually. Hospital operations are financed through a combination of Federal funds,

hospitalization insurance, patient payments, Medicare and Medicaid payments, and contractual 

agreements for patient care services with the District of Columbia government and other local 

jurisdictions. The Hospital is also a major teaching facility, providing training opportunities 

across a wide variety of specialty areas for graduate and professional students in the health 

sciences. Beginning in 2021, Howard University began construction of a new hospital and 

requested $300 million in Federal funds to support the construction. To complete Howard 

University’s overall request for this project, the Budget Request provides $43 million for fiscal 

year 2025 for the hospital’s construction, for a total of $300 million in Federal support for this 

project since 2021. This funding level assumes the fiscal year 2024 Senate level of $50 million 

is enacted.1

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2020 $240,018

2020 CARES Act 213,000

2021 251,018

2021 CRRSA Act 220,000

2021 Mandatory ARP Act 35,000

2022 344,018

2023 354,018

2024 Annualized CR 354,018

FY 2025 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2025, the Administration requests $297 million for the University, $57 million less 

than a fiscal year 2024 annualized CR based on the fiscal year 2023 appropriation. The 

Administration also proposes continuing to lift the restrictions in Title III, Part D, Section 344(a) 

of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (U.S.C. 1066c(a)) that prevent Howard 

University from accessing the HBCU Capital Financing Program.2 Howard University, similar to 

all other HBCUs, should have access to low-interest capital financing to address its capital 

needs. This request supports the Administration’s goals to advance opportunities in higher 

education and strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest quality education. As a 

1 Beginning in 2021, Howard University began construction of a new hospital and requested $300 million in Federal 

funds to support the construction. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, Congress appropriated a total of $207 million 

toward the total cost of building a new hospital. The Department aims to fully fund the construction project by 

FY 2025. However, the exact amount of remaining need depends on the FY 2024 appropriation, which was not 

finalized at the time of publication. The Department notes that the FY 2024 Annualized CR would provide 

$100 million, which would fully cover the remaining need. However, the FY 2024 Senate level was $50 million, which 

would leave a remaining need of $43 million. As such, the Department’s Request provides $43 million for the 

University’s hospital construction, assuming the fiscal year 2024 Senate level of $50 million is enacted, for a total of 

$300 million since fiscal year 2021.

2 At the Administration’s request, Congress lifted this prohibition in the fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 

appropriation bills. The Administration proposed similar language in fiscal year 2024.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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congressionally chartered HBCU, the University plays an important role in providing 

underserved individuals, particularly Black and African American students, with access to a 

high-quality postsecondary education.

According to the University, the Federal appropriation constituted approximately 22 percent of 

the University’s total revenues and 19 percent of the Howard University Hospital’s (Hospital) 

total revenues in fiscal year 2024. In order to maintain current levels of educational and

healthcare services, approximately $226.7 million of the fiscal year 2025 appropriation would be

allocated under General Support to the University, $27.3 million would support the Hospital’s 

current healthcare needs, and $43 million would support construction of the new hospital. 

General Support includes the University’s academic programs, research programs, the 

endowment program, and construction. 

In addition, since March 2020, Howard University has received a total of $68 million in direct 

supplemental funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or 

internationally, including to help defray the expenses directly caused by coronavirus and to

enable grants to students for expenses directly related to coronavirus and the disruption of 

university operations. More specifically, Howard University received $13 million from the 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136); $20 million from Division M 

of the FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 116-260); and $35 million from the 

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-02).

Academic Programs: The request would provide approximately $5 million for public service 

programs, $26.6 million for academic support, $10 million for student services, and 

$185.1 million for institutional support and grant aid to students.

Endowment Program: The 2025 request also would provide at least $3.4 million for the 

University’s endowment, and the University would be required to match this contribution on a 

dollar-for-dollar basis. The Administration believes continuing to earmark a minimum dollar level 

for the endowment encourages the University to increase its financial strength and 

independence from Federal support. The University maintains a pooled endowment that is 

comprised of hundreds of individual endowments that were valued at $863 million as of 

June 30, 2022. Revenue earned through the consolidated endowment program is intended to 

be used for instructional and research support, professorships, scholarships and other forms of 

student aid, and facilities. In recent years, the University has matched all Federal funds 

appropriated for endowment purposes in the fiscal year in which they were appropriated and is 

expected to do the same in fiscal year 2025. 

Howard University’s spending rate from its endowment is 4 percent of a spending pool based on 

market value, using a 3-year moving average with a 1-year lag. The University is currently 

reviewing its investment and spending policies going forward and looking for opportunities to 

increase the annual spending to continue its support of its mission critical goals.

Howard University Hospital: Federal support for the Hospital provides the University’s 

students with education, research, and training opportunities in medical, dental, and other 

health-related fields. The Hospital remains the primary teaching hospital for more than 

800 learners in the health care profession including medical students, nursing and allied health 

professionals, dentists, and pharmacists. Federal funding provides two types of support for the 
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

10

Howard University Hospital. The first is the annual appropriation for on-going expenses. The 

second is a one-time investment, provided over several years, to upgrade the Hospital’s 

infrastructure. The University requested $300 million in Federal funds to support this effort. 

Between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, Congress appropriated a total of $207 million toward the 

total cost of building a new hospital. More specifically, Congress appropriated $7 million in fiscal 

year 2021 to begin work to modernize the Hospital’s facilities and $100 million in each of fiscal 

years 2022 and 2023 to support hospital construction. Assuming the fiscal year 2024 Senate

level of $50 million is enacted, the fiscal year 2025 request of $43 million completes the $300 

million overall investment.1

The half-century old Hospital is an unacceptably outdated structure. Fewer than half of the beds 

at the facility can even be used. Howard and its consortium partners have come together to 

rebuild a new facility to continue as the academic medical center of the College of Medicine. A 

new facility would allow Howard to expand the size of its incoming medical school class and 

produce 2,000 new doctors in the first 10 years. A new facility would also allow similar increases 

at the dental, pharmacy, and nursing/allied health schools to better meet the acute need for 

diverse health care professionals nationwide. This robust pipeline of diverse health care 

professionals serving in historically underserved communities is even more critical now as 

COVID-19 has shown the dire consequences of our growing health care disparities.2

Construction: In fiscal year 2025, the University plans to spend $50 million for construction. 

Appropriated funds may be allocated to capital (construction and renovation) projects which 

maintain and enhance the University’s ability to provide high-quality postsecondary education 

and research environments.

1 The Department aims to fully fund the $300 million construction project by FY 2025. However, the exact amount of 

remaining need depends on the FY 2024 appropriation, which was not finalized at the time of publication. The 

Department notes that the FY 2024 Annualized CR would provide $100 million, which would fully cover the remaining 

need. However, the FY 2024 Senate level was $50 million, which would leave a remaining need of $43 million. As 

such, the Department’s Request provides $43 million for the University’s hospital construction, assuming the 

fiscal year 2024 Senate level of $50 million is enacted, for a total of $300 million since fiscal year 2021. 2 https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/563049-congress-must-step-up-to-fund-the-howard-universityhospital?rl=1 
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES

The output data shown below is from Howard University and is based on the University’s 

academic year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. Fiscal years 2024 and 2025 are projections. 

(dollars in thousands)

Output Measures 2023 2024 2025

Howard University General Support

Federal appropriation1 Howard University Gen eral Su pport $226,693 $226,693 $226,693

Other Federal funding Howard University Gen eral Supp ort 85,922 88,084 85,113

Total Federal funding Howard University General Supp ort 312,615 314,777 311,806

Restricted non-Federal revenue Howard University Gen eral Support 51,834 52,284 55,995

Revenue from tuition and fees Howard University Gen eral Support 401,687 443,075 469,660

Other non-Federal revenue Howard Universit y Gen eral Support 162,413 211,744 183,338

Total non-Federal revenue Howard Universit y Gen eral Support 615,933 707,102 708,993

Total University revenue Howard University General Su pport 922,643 1,018,474 1,021,928

Total University expenditures Howard University General Supp ort 897,089 980,493 994,461

Federal funding as percent of total revenue 33.9% 30.9% 30.5%

Tuition and fees 401,687 443,075 469,660

Tuition and fees as percent of total revenue 43.5% 43.5% 46.0%

Federal appropriation as percent of total revenue 24.6% 22.3% 22.2%

Howard University Hospital

Federal appropriation Howard University H osp ital $127,325 $77,325 $70,325

Other Federal funding Howard University Ho spital 128,102 110,589 111,910

Total Federal funding Howard University Ho spit al 255,427 187,914 182,235

Total Hospital revenue Howard Universit y Hospit al $324,192 $401,421 $412,248

Total Hospital expenditures Howard University Ho spital 330,827 307,936 311,015

Federal appropriation as percent of total revenue 39.3% 19.3% 17.1%

Construction

Construction expenditures $100,000 $100,000 $43,000

Endowment program

Federal appropriation1 Endowment pr ogram $3,405 $3,405 $3,405

Matching funds + other funds raised by University 6,279 6,279 6,279

Total new contributions: Endowment pr ogram 9,684 9,684 9,684

Endowment investment income $21,529 $22,864 $24,604

Market value of total University endowment: Endowm ent program 872,434 893,581 893,581

Investment income as percent of endowment: Endowm ent program 2.5% 2.6% 2.8%

1 Federal funding for the Howard endowment program ($3,405 thousand) is drawn from the appropriation for Howard 

University General Support.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

This section presents selected program performance information, including, for example, 

program goals, objectives, measures, and performance targets and data; and an assessment of 

the progress made toward achieving program results. Achievement of program results is based 

on the cumulative effect of the Federal resources provided for the program as well as the 

resources and efforts invested by those served by the program.

Goal: To assist Howard University with financial resources needed to carry out its 

educational mission.

Objective: Maintain or increase the undergraduate graduation rate.

Measure: The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking, undergraduate students who 

graduate within 6 years of enrollment.

Year Target Actual

2020 68% 64%

2021 70 64

2022 70 70

2023 70 Intentionally left blank

2024 70 Intentionally left blank

2025 70 Intentionally left blank

Additional information: The measure uses data taken from the Integrated Postsecondary 

Education Data System (IPEDS) database maintained by the National Center for Education 

Statistics (NCES) rather than directly from the University.

The long-term goal is to increase Howard University's graduation rate. According to the IPEDS 

data, in 1998, the graduation rate for Howard University was only 41 percent, but by 2009, it had 

significantly increased to 69 percent. Since then, Howard’s graduation rate has declined, and 

has hovered between 60-70 percent. FY 2023 performance data is expected to be available in 

December 2024.

Objective: Maintain or increase the retention of full-time undergraduate students.

Measure: The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking, undergraduate students who 

were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the 

current year.

Year Target Actual

2020 90% 86%

2021 90 90

2022 90 91

2023 90 88

2024 90 Intentionally left blank

2025 90 Intentionally left blank
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

13

Additional information: Data from IPEDS showed the average persistence rate at Howard 

University between 2017-2022 is 90 percent; and, most recently, the persistence rate is 

88 percent. FY 2024 performance data is expected to be available in December 2024.

Objective: Increase student enrollment over the long term.

Measure: The number of full-time, degree-seeking, undergraduate and graduate students 

enrolled at Howard University.

Year Target Actual

2020 10,000 10,048

2021 10,000 11,056

2022 10,000 11,547

2023 10,000 Intentionally left blank

2024 10,000 Intentionally left blank

2025 10,000 Intentionally left blank

Additional information: The measure uses data taken from the IPEDS database maintained 

by the NCES rather than directly from the University. FY 2023 performance data is expected to 

be available in December 2024. 

Efficiency Measures

The efficiency measure tracks the cost of a successful outcome, where success is defined as 

graduation and Federal cost is defined as the program appropriation. This measure ties in with 

the program’s performance indicators.

Measure: Federal cost of degrees and certificates awarded by Howard University.

Year Target Actual

2020 $88,000 $124,527

2021 88,000 91,432

2022 88,000 103,335

2023 88,000 Intentionally left blank

2024 88,000 Intentionally left blank

2025 88,000 Intentionally left blank

Additional information: The efficiency measure is calculated by dividing the total funds 

appropriated for Howard (exclusive of Hospital funding) by the number of students successfully 

completing degree or certificate programs. This measure allows the Department to track 

program performance in terms of cost to the Federal Government and the efficiency of Federal 

funds in achieving successful outcomes. FY 2023 performance data is expected to be available 

in December 2024.

A similar efficiency measure has been established for the higher education programs authorized 

under Titles III and V of the Higher Education Act, as well as for Gallaudet University and the 

National Technical Institute for the Deaf. This metric may enable the Department to assess 

relative program performance across institutions with similar types of missions.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Other Performance Information

In January 2019, the University rolled out its new Strategic Plan, Howard Forward 2024, which 

outlines new strategic priorities and five goals, that include:

• Enhance student success through transformation and innovation in teaching & learning, 

enhanced by the use of technology;

• Increase participation in grant funded research activity;

• Use experiential service-learning opportunities to teach awareness of local and global 

issues that align with the University’s mission;

• Operate efficiently and effectively across all levels of the organization; and

• Improve organizational financial accountability and outcomes.

Howard Forward 2024 can be accessed at https://strategicplan.howard.edu/.