Howard University Freshmen Face Unenrollment Due to Fees
WHO:
The Washington Post - Incoming Howard University freshman Isabella Williams, 18.
ABC News - More than 500 incoming students at Howard University.
NY Post - Hundreds of incoming Howard University students from across the country.
WHAT:
AP News - 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.”
AP News - Laverne Mickens reported answering over 400 emails from impacted students and families in two days, stating that most were “frantic and crying.”
AP News - A’Zariah Miles expressed concern about the timing of her unenrollment, stating, “I’ve been trying to continue to have hope with Howard, but I don’t really have that much time before school starts and I don’t really want to have a gap year.”
AP News - A’Zariah Miles’ mother, Kendra Miles, stated that the school’s automated system did not allow them to enroll in a payment plan due to the amount owed making them ineligible.
AP News - Laverne Mickens, who coaches students on applying for scholarships, reported answering over 400 emails from impacted students and families in two days.
AP News - A’Zariah Miles expressed concern about the difficulty of finding housing, stating, “Everybody’s housing is booked, or I can’t enroll because it’s too late or I missed orientation.”
AP News - A total of 502 first-time-in-college students were unenrolled from Howard University due to unpaid tuition fees.
AP News - A’Zariah Miles, 17, expressed concern about the timing of her unenrollment, stating, “Everybody’s housing is booked, or I can’t enroll because it’s too late or I missed orientation.”
AP News - Saniah Collins, 17, learned that a July 10 deadline to pay her tuition balance or make payment arrangements had passed, resulting in her unenrollment.
The Washington Post - Isabella Williams applied to every local scholarship she could find without telling her parents, stating it “felt like a gift to them.”
ABC News - Students have been unenrolled from Howard University due to unpaid tuition fees.
NY Post - Students received an email informing them they had been unenrolled just weeks before the start of school.
WHERE:
ABC News - Howard University, Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
ABC News - The fall semester begins on Aug. 17.
WHY:
The Washington Post - Isabella's mother was forced to leave Howard University decades ago due to financial challenges.
ABC News - The unenrollment is due to unpaid tuition fees.
HOW:
AP News - Howard University stated that starting in March, unenrolled students began receiving specific communications about enrollment requirements, payment expectations, and deadlines via email and orientation sessions.
AP News - Howard University confirmed that students began receiving specific communications about enrollment requirements and payment expectations starting in March.
AP News - Howard University confirmed that notifications were sent to students whose accounts did not reflect the required enrollment and financial obligations by the communicated deadlines.
NY Post - Students were notified via email about their unenrollment.
(UPDATED July 25, 2026 14:25 UTC)
Howard University has confirmed that notifications were sent to 502 first-time-in-college students whose accounts did not meet the required enrollment and financial obligations by the deadlines previously communicated. In just two days, Laverne Mickens received over 400 emails from concerned students and families, many of whom were frantic and in tears. A’Zariah Miles shared her worries about the timing of her unenrollment, expressing her desire to avoid a gap year as the start of school approaches.
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(UPDATED July 25, 2026 05:50 UTC)
A’Zariah Miles’ mother, Kendra, revealed that their school’s automated system prevented them from enrolling in a payment plan due to the outstanding amount owed. Meanwhile, Laverne Mickens, a coach for scholarship applications, has been inundated with over 400 emails from affected students and families in just two days. A’Zariah expressed her worries about the housing situation, saying, “Everybody’s housing is booked, or I can’t enroll because it’s too late or I missed orientation,” as Howard University confirmed that communications regarding enrollment requirements began in March.
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(UPDATED July 25, 2026 01:26 UTC)
A total of 502 first-time-in-college students have been unenrolled from Howard University due to unpaid tuition fees, with students like A’Zariah Miles expressing concern over the timing of their unenrollment. She noted that many students are facing challenges with housing and missed orientation deadlines. Howard University confirmed that notifications were sent to those students whose accounts did not meet the necessary enrollment and financial obligations by the specified deadlines.
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(UPDATED July 25, 2026 00:18 UTC)
Isabella Williams, an incoming freshman at Howard University, has taken a unique approach to funding her education by applying to every local scholarship available without informing her parents. The 18-year-old expressed that this effort felt like a gift to her family, especially considering her mother's past struggles with finances that forced her to leave Howard decades ago. Isabella's determination highlights a personal connection to her family's history and a commitment to overcoming obstacles.
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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 23:19 UTC)
More than 500 incoming students at Howard University in Washington, D.C. have been unenrolled due to unpaid tuition fees, just weeks before the fall semester begins on August 17. These students received an email informing them of their unenrollment, leaving many shocked and scrambling for solutions. The situation has raised concerns among students and families as they prepare for the upcoming school year.