Howard University has been cited as an Institution Excelling in Access and Success for outperforming its peer institutions in enrolling and graduating Federal Pell Grant recipients. In a report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education, the University is recognized as one of 13 higher education institutions leading the way in creating pathways to social mobility and economic opportunity.

The report, "Fulfilling the Promise, Serving the Need: Advancing College Opportunity for Low-Income Students," lists public and private colleges that are meeting the needs of low-income students with the resources needed to complete their degrees in six years or less. The Pell Grant is generally awarded to undergraduates who demonstrate unmet financial need. Students whose families have a total income of $50,000 or less may be eligible for the need-based funding; however, most Pell Grants are awarded to students with a total family income below $20,000. Forty-five percent of Howard students are Pell Grant eligible. That percentage is higher than the forty percent of all undergraduates currently receiving grants. Fifty-four percent of the University’s grant recipients graduate in six years.

“Howard University is committed to ensuring that all of our students succeed regardless of income,” said Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of Howard University. “We are proud of our students dedicated to their matriculation and will continue to ensure they have access to an excellent education experience at Howard.”

According to the 2016 Department of Education report, students who come from families with higher incomes are more likely to graduate within six years compared to half of Pell Grant recipients. The Department of Education is looking to close the income disparities in college access and success. "For us to thrive as a diverse democracy and for individuals to achieve their dreams of success, higher education must fulfill its promise of providing opportunity to all students, regardless of their race, gender, or income level," U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell said in a statement.