George Washington University vs Howard University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
George Washington University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Howard University at 100.0%. Average median debt: George Washington University at $25,590 vs Howard University at $25,242. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $62,350 vs $58,650.
| Metric | George Washington University | Howard University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Dc | Dc |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $25,590 | $25,242* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $62,350* | $58,650 |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer Science (95/100) | Computer Science (95/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $21,971 | $21,243* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000 | $95,000 |
George Washington University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Howard University at 100.0%. Average median debt: George Washington University at $25,590 vs Howard University at $25,242. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $62,350 vs $58,650.
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Related Colleges
George Washington University and Howard University graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
Average median debt is roughly even across George Washington University and Howard University. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.
Earnings outcomes track closely — George Washington University and Howard University graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
Both schools sit in Dc, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.