Photo by Ted Eytan
It looks like Nick Cannon picked the right time to become a bison. While it hasn’t regained its top 100 status, Howard University jumped 11 spots on U.S. News & World Report’s latest national college rankings. Making “one of the largest leaps” on this year’s list, according to the report, Howard joined D.C.’s Catholic University and three other colleges in tying at No. 124.
Locals schools that made the national top 100 include Georgetown University at 20, George Washington University at 56, University of Maryland College Park at 60, and American at 74.
Among historically black colleges and universities, Howard ranked second behind Spelman College in Atlanta.
In 2013, U.S. News & World Report noted that the university’s ranking rank fell sharply under the presidency of Sidney Ribeau, who stepped down that year. In the 2010 edition, which was published roughly one year after Ribeau took office, Howard ranked 96th in the national category. By the 2014 edition, the university fell to No. 142.
During that time period, Howard experienced declines in almost all of the report’s key academic indicators from academic peer assessment and student selectivity to faculty resources and graduation and retention rates, according to U.S. News & World Report.
And over the past year, students have made headlines with their own gripes against the institution.
Last September, students organized a sit-in to protest operational dysfunctions, including access to financial aid at the private institution that holds a $24,908 tuition. Two months later, the university’s marching band announced a protest during a football game, stating that they decided to wear all black “for the lack of a budget—more specifically scholarships for the band program—and to shed light on the lack of financial support for the student body.”
As part of the university’s turnaround, Howard gave graduating seniors tuition rebates in April, which were offered as an incentive to graduate early or in four years. The rebates were unanimously supported by the school’s board of trustees, who voted on the decision last year, according to a release from the college. “Howard University has an unwavering commitment to the needs of its students,” said current president Dr. Wayne Frederick, adding that the rebates are both rewards and financial relief for students.
Howard presented about 1,300 Bachelor’s Degrees at its graduation ceremony in the spring, where President Barack Obama gave the commencement address.
