Over 500 new students at a top 100 U.S. university have their admissions revoked

Five hundred two new students were unexpectedly disinvited by Howard University just weeks before the new academic year, due to late tuition payments, sparking controversy.

In an email last week, Howard University stated that these students had not paid the remaining 50% of their tuition or enrolled in the required payment plan. Consequently, the university could not hold their spots.

The university also announced it would not refund the enrollment and dormitory deposit of 800 USD per student.

This decision came just before students were scheduled to move into dormitories on 3/8, in preparation for the fall semester beginning on 17/8.

Many new students and their families expressed shock and frustration. Most stated that the outstanding tuition was awaiting disbursement from scholarships or financial aid packages, believing the amount would be automatically deducted. Some also reported not receiving notifications due to errors in the management system.

"Being suddenly removed from the admission list at my dream school is truly heartbreaking. This is confusing", shared Isabella Williams, one of the affected students. She stated that she received the notification while packing her belongings into a truck, preparing to head to campus.

Given the last-minute notification, students had to scramble to find alternative universities or seek to reinstate their admission status. Many found themselves with little opportunity to resolve the issue before the start of the new academic year.

Howard University stated it would review all relevant information and consider the specific circumstances of each individual, including pending scholarships and financial aid approvals.

Meanwhile, to support the students, the Governor of New York announced earlier this week that the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) are expediting late admission applications for those who lost their places at Howard University.

These universities will also provide 800 USD to each student to compensate for the deposit not refunded by Howard University.

Howard University is one of the most prestigious historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the United States. The university currently ranks 88th in the 2026 US News Best Colleges rankings. Last year, it had over 11,000 students. The average tuition for students living in dormitories is approximately 38,000 USD per year (equivalent to one billion VND).