Howard University has disenrolled 502 first-year students for failing to meet enrollment and financial obligations, prompting other institutions to extend admissions deadlines. The university notified students on July 27 that their spots were no longer held, citing missed tuition payments despite notifications sent since March. Some students claim they never received the notifications.
Keana Johnson, a 17-year-old from New York, is among those affected. She is now considering the University of the District of Columbia and other historically Black colleges. "I will still love to go to Howard," she said. "I’ve invested too much into going to that university to give up now."
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that affected New York residents can seek admission at CUNY and SUNY for the fall 2026 semester. Several SUNY campuses are offering expedited late admissions reviews. "New York is ready to support and empower you," Hochul said.
Howard University has stated that students who believe their accounts were incorrect can contact the financial aid office for review. However, the university has not responded to requests for the number of reinstated students or the status of pending cases.
Saniah Collins, another affected student, expressed frustration: "I worked like crazy to get into this school. Howard has been my everything." The disenrollment follows a similar issue last year, where hundreds of students faced registration delays due to overdue balances.