Is Howard University or George Washington University cheaper overall for most students?

Howard University is usually cheaper overall for most students. Its published tuition and fees are typically lower than George Washington’s, and because both schools are in Washington, D.C., the city-based living costs do not erase that difference. In practice, the bigger gap tends to come from the direct billed cost rather than from housing, food, or transportation.

George Washington is a private university with a notably higher sticker price, while Howard, though also private, has historically come in at a lower total billed cost for tuition and mandatory fees.

Housing and everyday expenses matter, but they usually do not flip the result. Both campuses are in D.C., where rent, food, and personal expenses are expensive. Even if one student’s exact housing situation varies, the local cost environment is similar enough that GW’s higher direct charges are usually still the deciding factor.

The biggest exception is financial aid. George Washington can sometimes make the net price competitive or even lower for a particular student if it offers stronger need-based aid or merit money, while Howard may be cheaper on paper but not always after grants and scholarships are applied. So for most students comparing published total cost, Howard is the less expensive option, but the final answer for an individual student comes from each school’s actual aid offer.