Howard University has unenrolled more than 500 incoming first-year students from its fall semester classes due to outstanding tuition payments. The notifications, sent out this week, mean these students have lost their spots at the historically Black university in Washington, D.C., just weeks before the semester is set to begin on August 17.
Many of the affected students have taken to social media to share their stories, with some videos going viral. A'Zariah Miles, 17, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was informed that her family was ineligible for a payment plan because the amount owed exceeded the threshold for enrollment. Her mother, Kendra Miles, stated that despite reaching out to various university contacts, she was told by an advisor that the unenrolment was not a mistake and could not be reversed.
In an email, Howard University confirmed that notifications were sent to "502 first-time-in-college students whose accounts did not reflect the required enrollment and financial obligations by the previously communicated deadlines." The university stated that students began receiving communications about enrollment requirements, payment expectations, and deadlines in March.
"The university recognizes that timing differences may have occurred between when financial aid was reflected and when charges were finalized," Howard said in the email. "Students who believe their account did not accurately reflect their financial standing at the deadline should contact the Bursar’s Office. Each case will be reviewed individually to determine whether adjustments or reinstatement are appropriate."
Howard University, one of approximately 100 historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S., had an undergraduate enrollment of about 11,000 students last fall. The average annual cost for an undergraduate student living on campus is approximately $38,000 for tuition and $13,600 for housing.
Laverne Mickens, who runs The Scholarship College Mama LLC and helps students with scholarship applications, reported receiving over 400 emails from distraught students and families. Many of these students had specifically chosen Howard over other institutions.
A'Zariah Miles, who planned to major in biology, expressed concern that it might be too late in the summer to enroll elsewhere, citing issues with housing availability and missed orientation sessions. Similarly, Saniah Collins of Atlanta learned of her unenrolment on Wednesday, with an email stating she missed a July 10 deadline to pay her tuition balance or make payment arrangements. Despite being told by an advisor that most of her balance was paid, she is trying to remain hopeful, having worked diligently on securing scholarships.