Department of Education

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language ........................................................................................................T-1

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes.......................................................................T-2

Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers .............................................................................T-3

Authorizing Legislation............................................................................................................T-4

Appropriations History.............................................................................................................T-5

Activity:

Howard University................................................................................................................ T-6

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Appropriations Language

For partial support of Howard University, $240,018,000, 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 (Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2020.)

NOTE

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.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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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

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Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation/Adjustments/Transfers 2019 2020 2021

Discretionary:

Discretionary budget authority: Appropriation .................................................... $236,518 $240,018 $240,018

Discretionary budget authority: Total, discretionary appropriation.................. 236,518 240,018 240,018
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2020

Authorized

2020

Appropriation Footnote

2021

Authorized

2021

Request

General support (20 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) .................... Indefinite $212,6931 Indefinite $212,693

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

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

Total appropriation.............................................. 240,018 240,018

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 2020, the University must allocate at least $3,405 thousand for the endowment program. For fiscal year 2021, the Administration 

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

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T-5

Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands) 

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote FAppropriationFootnote 

2012 234,507 234,5071 234,5071 234,064

2013 234,064 234,0642 234,0642 221,821

2014 234,064 N/A3 234,0641 221,821

2015 221,821 N/A3 221,8214 233,245

2016 221,821 221,8215 219,5005 221,821

2017 221,821 221,8216 221,8216 221,8216

2018 220,314 221,8217 221,8217 232,5187

2019 221,821 232,5188 236,5188 236,5188

2020 221,821 250,000 236,5189 240,0189

2021 240,018

1 The level for the House allowance reflects an introduced bill, and the level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate 

Committee action only.

2 The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2013 appropriations bill, which 

proceeded in the 112th Congress only through the House Subcommittee and the Senate Committee. 3 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action. 4 The level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only.

5 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.

6 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. 7 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). 8 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). 9 The Senate allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflect the Further Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94).

Activity:
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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Howard University

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

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2021 Authorization: Indefinite

Budget Authority:

N am e footnote 

2020

Appropriation

2021

Request footn

ote

Change from

2020 to 2021 footn

ote

General Support $212,6931 $212,6931 0

Howard University Hospital 27,325 27,325 0

Total 240,018 240,018 0

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

University. However, the 2020 appropriation required the University to allocate at least $3,405 thousand for the 

endowment program. The Administration proposes the same language for 2021.

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 underrepresented 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. The Association of American 

Medical Colleges recently named the University 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, particularly minorities, especially in fields in which they are still 

underrepresented.

.
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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 

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.

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2016.................................................................................$221,821

2017...................................................................................221,821

2018...................................................................................232,518

2019...................................................................................236,518

2020...................................................................................240,018

FY 2021 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2021, the Administration requests $240 million for Howard University (the 

University), the same as the fiscal year 2020 appropriation. 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 congressionally chartered HBCU, the 

University plays an important role in providing disadvantaged individuals, particularly Blacks and 

African Americans, with access to a high quality postsecondary education.

According to the University, the Federal appropriation constituted approximately 30 percent of 

the University’s total revenues and 10 percent of the Howard University Hospital’s (Hospital) 

total revenues in fiscal year 2019. In order to maintain current levels of educational and 

healthcare services, approximately $212.7 million of the fiscal year 2021 appropriation would be 

allocated under General Support to the University, and $27.3 million would go to the Hospital. 

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

endowment program, and construction.

Academic Programs: The request would provide approximately $80 million to support 

instruction, $8 million for public service program services, $30 million for academic support, 

$28 million for student services, and $61 million for institutional support and grant aid to 

students.

Endowment Program: The 2021 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 would encourage the University to increase its financial strength and 
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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

comprised of more than 800 individual endowments that were valued at $689 million as of June 

30, 2018. 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 it

plans to do the same in fiscal year 2021.

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 these 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 Howard University 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.

Construction: In fiscal year 2020, the University allocated $51.5 million for construction and 

maintenance of which $5.15 million was expected to derive from the Federal appropriation. In 

fiscal year 2021, the University plans to spend $49.5 million for construction, with an estimated 

10 percent of the total coming from the Federal appropriation.

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.

Output Measures Footn

ote

2019

Footnote

2020 Footnote2021 Footnote

Student population by enrollment (in whole 

numbers):

Number of full-time undergraduate students 6,232 5,872 5,815

Number of full-time graduate students 1,238 1,128 1,099

Number of full-time professional students 1,483 1,449 1,447

Total number of full-time students 8,953 8,449 8,361

Total number of undergraduate students 6,433 6,449 6,343

Total number of graduate students 1,504 1,533 1,467

Total number of professional students 1,487 1,482 1,477

Total number of students 9,424 9,464 9,287
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

Output Measures 2019 2020 Fo2021

Student population by race (in whole numbers):

Number of Black U.S. undergraduate students 5,616 5,541 5,371

Number of other U.S. undergraduate students 431 390 412

Number of international undergraduate students 1,487 444 466

Number of Black U.S. graduate students 1,101 1,245 1,270

Number of other U.S. graduate students 171 192 201

Number of international graduate students 232 251 253

Number of Black U.S. professional students 1,111 1,076 1,070

Number of other U.S. professional students 339 364 394

Number of international professional students 64 61 60

Student population by family income (in whole numbers):

Number of undergraduates with family income of 

less than $40,000 2,180 2,180 2,180

Number of graduate students with family income 

of less than $40,000 937 937 937

Number of professional students with family 

income of less than $40,000 987 987 987

Undergraduate student financial aid (in whole 

number and dollars):

Number of U.S. students receiving Federal aid 4,665 4,665 4,665

 Average amount of aid U.S. students receiving F eder al aid $17,577 $17,557 $17,557

Number of U.S. students receiving non-Fed’l aid 4,655 4,655 4,655

 Average amount of aid U.S. students receiving non-F ed’l ai d $20,439 $20,439 $20,439

Number of international students receiving nonFed’l aid 333 333 333

Average amount of aid $29,165 $29,165 $29,165

Graduate student financial aid (in whole numbers 

and dollars):

Number of U.S. students receiving Federal aid 887 887 887

Average amount of aid U.S. students r eceiving Feder al aid $35,800 $35,800 $35,800

Number of U.S. students receiving non-Fed’l aid 574 574 574

Average amount of aid U.S. students r eceiving non-F ed’l ai d $16,074 $16,074 $16,074

Number of international students receiving 

non-Fed’l aid 106 106 106

Average amount of aid foreign students receiving non-Fed’l aid $21,625 $21,625 $21,625
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

Output Measures 2019 2020 2021

Professional student financial aid (in whole 

numbers and dollars):

Number of U.S. students receiving Federal aid 1,300 1,300 1,300

Average amount of aid U.S. students r eceiving Feder al aid $59,916 $59,916 $59,916

Number of U.S. students receiving non-Fed’l aid 641 641 641

Average amount of aid U.S. students r eceiving non-F ed’l ai d $16,606 $16,606 $16,606

Number of international students receiving 

non-Fed’l aid 36 36 36

Average amount of aid foreign students receiving non-Fed’l aid $31,510 $31,510 $31,510

Degrees awarded by type and race (in whole 

numbers):

Baccalaureates awarded to Black U.S. students 1,150 1,148 1,143

Baccalaureates awarded to other U.S. students 42 69 73

Baccalaureates awarded to international students 125 127 130

Total number of Baccalaureates awarded 1,317 1,344 1,346

Masters awarded to Black U.S. students 204 248 265

Masters awarded to other U.S. students 26 33 36

Masters awarded to international students 47 46 50

Total number of Masters awarded 277 327 351

Ph.D.s awarded to Black U.S. students 53 77 76

Ph.D.s awarded to other U.S. students 9 10 11

Ph.D.s awarded to international students 28 24 25

Total number of Ph.D.s awarded 90 111 112

Professional degrees awarded to Black students 299 287 285

Professional degrees awarded to other U.S. 

students 79 84 84

Professional degrees awarded to international 

students 16 14 13

Total number of Professional degrees awarded 394 385 382
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

Output Measures 2019 2020 Footnote2021

Faculty:

Number of paid faculty 1,257 1,210 1,175

Number of faculty serving without compensation 4 5 5 

Total number of faculty 1,261 1,215 1,180

Construction (dollars in thousands):

Construction expenditures $35,999 $51,500 $49,500

Endowment program (dollars in thousands):

Federal appropriation Endowm ent program $3,405 1 $3,405 1 $3,405 1

Matching funds + other funds raised by University Endowment pr ogram : 

Endowm ent program End owment p rogram

4,549 4,776 5,015

Total new contributions: E Endowment pr ogram : Endowm ent pr ogram endowment prog ram 7,954 8,181 8,420

Market value of total University endowment 686,638 731,270 778,802

Endowment investment income 23,462 24,536 23,300

Investment income as percent of endowment 3.4 % 3.4 % 3.0 %

Howard University General Support (dollars in 

thousands):

Federal appropriation Howard University General Sup port $209,193 1 $212,693 1 $212,693 1

Other Federal funding Howard University Gen eral Supp ort

 33,301 33,471 33,806

Total Federal funding Howard University General Supp ort 242,494 246,164 246,499

Restricted non-Federal revenue Howard University Gen eral Support

24,711 25,117 25,369

Revenue from tuition and fees Howard University Gen eral Support

252,305 256,459 259,369

Other non-Federal revenue Howard Universit y Gen eral Support

172,462 142,209 123,629

Total non-Federal revenue Howard Universit y Gen eral Support 449,478 423,785 408,367

Total University revenue Howard University General Su pport $690,910 $666,449 $679,006

Total University expenditures Howard University General Supp ort

683,865 684,761 691,609

Federal funding as percent of total revenue 35.0 % 36.4 % 37.0 %

Tuition and fees as percent of total revenue 36.5 % 38.3 % 39.6 %

Federal appropriation as percent of total revenue 30.2 % 31.7 % 32.5 %

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 OUTPUT MEASURES 

Output Measures 2019 Footnote2020 e2021

Howard University Hospital (dollars in thousands):

Federal appropriation Howard University H osp ital $27,325 $27,325 $27,325

Other Federal funding Howard University Ho spital

60,309 66,713 67,380

Total Federal funding Howard University Ho spit al 87,634 94,038 94,705

Total Hospital revenue Howard Universit y Hospit al $250,953 $283,290 $283,574

Total Hospital expenditures Howard University Ho spital

247,290 265,897 271,215

Federal appropriation as percent of total revenue 10.9 % 9.6 % 9.6 %

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

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

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 resources provided in previous years and those requested in fiscal 

year 2021 and future years, as well as the resources and efforts invested by those served by 

this 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

2016 70 61%

2017 70 63

2018 70 62

2019 70

2020 70

2021 70

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.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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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 2003, it had 

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

has hovered around 60 percent. 

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

2016 90 86%

2017 90 94

2018 90 85

2019 90

2020 90

2021 90

Additional Information: Data from IPEDS showed Howard University’s persistence rate 

steadily dropped beginning in 2007, when it dipped to 85 percent after multiple years at 90. The 

rate fell further through 2016 before improving in 2017 to exceed the target. However, Howard 

University failed to meet the target set for 2018.

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

2016 12,000 8,717

2017 12,000 9,689

2018 10,000 9,424

2019 10,000

2020 10,000

2021 10,000

Additional Information: This measure utilizes data provided by Howard University.
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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

2016 88,000 $90,253

2017 88,000 88,770

2018 88,000 98,841

2019 88,000

2020 88,000

2021 88,000

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. The Federal cost per degree or certificate awarded 

has remained above the target, in part due to the declining enrollment noted above. As a result 

of the decreased enrollment at the University, the Department will consider revising targets for 

future years. 

Other Performance Information

In a letter dated August 13, 2018, the Department informed the University that it had been 

placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 (HCM2) status so that the Department could closely 

monitor the institution’s financial aid management. This meant the University would no longer 

receive financial aid dollars in advance to award to students but would have to make awards to 

students and then seek reimbursement from the Federal Government. The Department’s letter 

cited numerous problems that prompted this action and noted that Howard had “failed to provide 

all documentation requested” during past compliance audits and a program review.

Effective June 27, 2019, Howard University was removed from the HCM2 method of payment to 

HCM1. The new HCM1 status requires the University to make disbursements to eligible 

students with institutional funds before drawing down funds from the Department of Education. 

This change in status requires that the University to report monthly to the Department on the 

students who are not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with 

published SAP policy and procedures. The Department will continue working with leadership to 

stabilize the University’s financial condition in fiscal year 2020 and 2021 to ensure continued 

improvements in financial operational management and full compliance regarding the Federal 

appropriation. 
HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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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 our 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://www2.howard.edu/howard-forward.