Hundreds of incoming Howard University students were disenrolled after a missed payment deadline, with students reporting conflicting notices and pending scholarships. Howard says it has reinstated more than 200 of about 500 affected students, leaving nearly 300 still seeking placements. Maryland and New York are coordinating expedited admissions and offering an $800 credit to offset deposits, while UDC extended its deadline to Aug. 7 and waived application fees to help students begin classes on Aug. 21.
Colleges Rush to Help Students After Howard University Mass Unenrollment
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Colleges from New York to Maryland are moving quickly to accommodate incoming students who were unexpectedly disenrolled from Howard University after a missed payment deadline. The disruption, which affected roughly 500 incoming students, prompted state officials and several universities to offer expedited admissions, financial relief and enrollment support.
Earlier this month, hundreds of students reported receiving email notices that they had been unenrolled from Howard because of an unpaid deadline. Students told theGrio they received conflicting messages about payment dates and, in some cases, were awaiting scholarships that would have covered semester charges.
"I know I'm supposed to check all my stuff, but that's what I did, and I was just misled," Kendra K., an incoming freshman from Atlanta, told theGrio.
Howard University's interim president, Wayne A. I. Frederick, said that more than 200 of the roughly 500 affected students have since been reinstated to the Class of 2030. That leaves nearly 300 students still seeking alternatives as the academic year approaches.
Maryland Steps In
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced a partnership with the University System of Maryland (USM) and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to create a coordinated intake and support process. The effort aims to help affected students identify programs with available capacity, navigate financial aid, and receive expedited review for late admissions. The state is also offering an $800 credit to offset nonrefundable enrollment and housing deposits paid to Howard.
Officials are collecting interest and inquiries at [email protected]. Participating USM campuses include:
- Bowie State University
- Coppin State University
- Frostburg State University
- Salisbury University
- Towson University
- University of Baltimore
- University of Maryland campuses (Baltimore, Baltimore County, College Park, Eastern Shore)
New York Offers Fast-Track Options
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said select campuses within the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) systems will expedite late-admissions reviews for students affected by Howard's unenrollment notices. New York officials are matching Maryland's move by offering an $800 credit to help cover students' nonrefundable deposits.
Participating New York institutions named by officials include:
- University at Albany
- Binghamton University
- University at Buffalo
- Stony Brook University
- Alfred State College
- SUNY Brockport
- SUNY Buffalo State
- SUNY Canton
- Farmingdale State College
- SUNY New Paltz
- SUNY Old Westbury
- SUNY Oneonta
- SUNY Purchase
Washington, D.C.: UDC Opens Its Doors
The University of the District of Columbia extended its undergraduate application deadline to August 7 and waived its application fee for affected students. Hasanna Tyus, UDC's vice president of enrollment, told WTOP News that enrollment specialists across admissions, financial aid, registration, advising and housing are prepared to help students complete the enrollment process and be ready to start classes on August 21.
With multiple states and institutions mobilizing to accommodate students left in limbo, officials say their top priority is minimizing disruption and preserving students' paths to degree completion as the fall term approaches.
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