Community college transfer requirements to Howard University

Howard University is a major receiving institution for community college transfer students in District of Columbia. This page summarizes the published minimum GPA, application deadline, credit cap, and articulation framework you need to plan the transfer.

Transfer-admission profile

Howard University publishes a transfer-admission policy distinct from its freshman policy. The minimum cumulative community college GPA for transfer applicants is approximately 2.5; competitive majors — particularly engineering, nursing, computer science, and the business school — typically require a higher GPA, often 3.2 or above, plus specific grades in named lower-division prerequisite courses. The university accepts up to 60 semester hours of community college credit toward the bachelor's; anything earned beyond that cap will appear on the transcript but will not reduce the credits required for graduation.

The application window is Mar 1 (fall) / Nov 1 (spring), and applicants should plan to have an official transcript from every previously attended college, the FAFSA submitted by the priority deadline, and (where required) a brief transfer essay or major-specific supplement. Some Howard University programs admit only for the fall term; others admit for both fall and spring. Confirm with the receiving department before you commit to a transfer term.

Step-by-step transfer plan

1. Decide your target major. Read the Howard University department's transfer guide for that major, which lists every required and recommended lower-division course.
2. Pick a feeder community college in District of Columbia that offers the matching transfer-track associate degree (AA, AS, or the state's transfer-associate variant).
3. Map every semester against the Howard University articulation table. Confirm with both your community college advisor and the receiving department that the courses you plan to take will count.
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA above 2.5 — and well above for the competitive majors. Aim for at least 3.2 if you're targeting an oversubscribed program.
5. File the FAFSA before the priority deadline, request an official transcript from every prior college, and submit your application before Mar 1 (fall) / Nov 1 (spring).
6. After admission, attend the transfer orientation, lock in your major declaration with the receiving department, and request a final credit evaluation in writing.

Popular majors for transfer-in

Each program-area page below outlines the typical two-year coursework, prerequisites, and recommended sequence for transferring into the corresponding bachelor's program at Howard University:

• Business Administration at Howard University
• Nursing (RN) at Howard University
• Computer Science at Howard University
• Information Technology at Howard University
• Engineering Transfer at Howard University
• Early Childhood Education at Howard University
• Criminal Justice at Howard University
• Psychology at Howard University
• Biology / Pre-Health at Howard University
• Communications & Media at Howard University
• Liberal Arts (General Studies) at Howard University
• Hospitality & Culinary at Howard University