Howard University Disenrolled Hundreds of Incoming Freshmen—and the Internet Wants Answers

H-U! You know!

Founded in 1867 with an alumni roster that includes a who’s who in every field imaginable from Tony-winning actress Phylicia Rashad to Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison to former Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris to the first Black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Howard University has been a force as an institution of higher learning for more than a century.

However, earlier this week, folks were left scratching their heads in confusion about the storied HBCU. Social media timelines were filled with disgruntled incoming freshmen, some in tears, who had been disenrolled from the school just weeks before fall classes are scheduled to begin. According to some reports, 502 new students were informed, via email, that they were dropped from their classes and would not be able to attend the university as planned due to missed payments.

Isabella Williams is one of those students. She had a longtime dream of attending Howard and was preparing to drive nearly 14 hours from her hometown of Fort Mitchell, Alabama to Washington, D.C. to get settled into her new home away from home also known as “The Mecca” . Her joy-filled preparations and excitement came to a screeching halt when she received notification from the university’s financial aid office that her outstanding tuition balance caused her disenrollment. Williams revealed to Capital B News that the disenrollment came as a complete surprise. According to the outlet, the university stated that she would be refunded for the payments she’d made and that she’d be able to apply as a transfer student next semester.

Fighting through tears, Williams shared in a deeply emotional video on Instagram that she was awaiting scholarship funds and alerted the school of this before receiving the email. According to her, at that time she was assured that these delayed scholarship funds would not negatively impact her enrollment. “Never in my life have I been so disappointed,” she said in the now viral video. “Never in my life have I worked so hard for it to be stripped from me.” 

In the last two days, dozens of other students have shared similar heartfelt accounts online. Incoming students who were excited about being members of Howard’s Class of 2030 and then who seemingly out of nowhere had the rug pulled from under their feet. (For context, according to U.S. News, in 2024 Howard University had an undergraduate enrollment of 11,519 students and tuition and related fees rang to the tune of approximately $38,936.) Some incoming freshmen were scheduled to move in as early as July 25. In all fairness, an unpaid bill is an unpaid bill, and a deadline is a deadline. Colleges and universities, not even our beloved HBCUs, can run on hopes and dreams alone.

But what is perplexing are those accounts like that from Williams which claim confirmations were given directly from the school stating scholarship and related funds received after the deadline would still be acceptable for students preparing to begin classes in the fall.

So, what gives?

Howard University officials took to Instagram to provide an explanation for the disenrollments and offer plans to move forward.

“Howard University understands the concerns and challenges that students and families are experiencing related to the recent enrollment update for some first-time-in college students. The University is reviewing information related to enrollment status, anticipated scholarship funding, and other financial aid, where appropriate, and will consider relevant circumstances regarding pending scholarship awards and financial aid resources for impacted students. We remain committed to supporting students and families and reviewing individual circumstances, where appropriate.”

To the university’s credit, Williams and select other students are being reenrolled in fall courses. Still, the trauma this incident likely caused her is real. Will reenrollment be the case for all 502 students? Is it realistic for us even think that they all should be? Do we expect any for-profit business to waive deadlines in the name of feelings? Is that the standard at any institution of higher learning? Howard University should absolutely be held accountable for this and all internal issues and challenges. And individuals should also be held accountable for paying their debts in a timely manner when agreed upon payment plans are established.

Williams is thankfully back on track to begin her college career at Howard next month. She intends to gather fellow students in person for some relaxation before hitting the books after a tense start to the semester. Hopefully all those involved will soon receive some solace to relax as well.