Howard University Off-Campus Housing

What Makes Howard University Unique?

Founded in 1867, Howard University is one of the most influential historically Black colleges and universities in the world and a cornerstone of academic life in Washington, DC. Located in the city's Northwest quadrant, just north of downtown and the National Mall, Howard draws visiting scholars, postdoctoral researchers, faculty on sabbatical, and graduate students from across the country and around the globe. In 2025 Howard became the first and only HBCU to earn the R1 Carnegie Classification, the highest designation for research activity in the United States, reflecting decades of scholarship across medicine, law, communications, engineering, and the social sciences.

For academics planning a semester, a research year, or a short-term fellowship at Howard, finding the right housing is often the biggest logistical hurdle. Washington's rental market moves quickly, and university housing for visitors is limited, so most scholars look to off-campus housing instead. That is where SabbaticalHomes comes in. Our community connects scholars with furnished home rentals, sublets, apartments, and home exchanges offered by fellow academics who understand the rhythms of the academic calendar.

What Are the Academic Specialties at Howard University?

Howard is a private research university made up of 14 schools and colleges spanning more than 120 fields of study, with particular strength in disciplines that have shaped national leadership for over 150 years:

• Howard University School of Law is one of the most historically significant law schools in the country, with alumni including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
• Howard University College of Medicine has trained generations of physicians and anchors a strong health sciences presence alongside the colleges of Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.
• The Cathy Hughes School of Communications is a national draw for journalism, media, and communications scholars.
• The College of Engineering and Architecture supports research in engineering, computer science, and the built environment.
• The College of Arts and Sciences covers the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, awarding more research doctorates to Black students than any other university in the country.
• The Graduate School coordinates doctoral and master's programs that bring visiting researchers and fellows to campus each year.

Howard's R1 research designation and its role as a hub for scholarship have made it a destination for visiting academics, fellows, and conference attendees. Many of these appointments run for a semester or an academic year, which makes temporary furnished housing especially valuable.

What Neighborhoods Do Howard University Faculty and Staff Prefer?

Howard's main campus sits in the heart of Northwest DC, and the surrounding neighborhoods offer a range of off-campus homes for visiting scholars and faculty:

• LeDroit Park: directly adjacent to campus, with historic tree-lined streets and row houses, founded in the 1870s by a Howard trustee and long tied to the university.
• Shaw: just south of campus, a lively neighborhood known for its jazz heritage, restaurants, and the Shaw-Howard University Metro station.
• Bloomingdale: a quiet residential pocket of brownstones within walking distance, popular with faculty families.
• Columbia Heights: a diverse, dynamic neighborhood to the west with strong shopping, dining, and Metro access.
• U Street Corridor: a historic cultural district with nightlife and dining, well connected to campus.
• Petworth and Brightwood: more residential and affordable options north of campus, still easily reached by Metro.

Many SabbaticalHomes listings in these neighborhoods come from academics themselves, which means they are genuinely homes for academics: desks, book-friendly shelving, and hosts who understand semester-based timelines.

What Are Frequently Asked Questions About Howard University Housing?

How do scholars get around Washington, DC, without a car?

Most visiting academics at Howard live car-free. The Shaw-Howard University Metro station sits just south of campus on the Green and Yellow lines and reaches downtown's Metro Center in under 15 minutes. DC is highly walkable, with daily needs covered within most central neighborhoods, and the city's expanding network of bike lanes and Capital Bikeshare stations makes cycling a practical option. When choosing housing, proximity to a Metro station is usually the most useful filter.

Which neighborhoods are within walking distance of Howard?

LeDroit Park, Shaw, and Bloomingdale all border campus and put scholars within a short walk of Howard Yard and the main academic buildings. LeDroit Park in particular has a long historical connection to the university and offers quiet, tree-lined streets. Columbia Heights and the U Street Corridor are slightly further but still walkable, and both add strong dining and transit options. Walkable neighborhoods tend to be more competitive, so setting up a search alert on SabbaticalHomes helps you act quickly when a good match appears.

What should international scholars know before renting near Howard?

Howard's global research mission brings visiting academics from around the world, and many SabbaticalHomes hosts are themselves faculty who understand the needs of international scholars. Renting from an academic host often means you can avoid the US credit history checks that conventional landlords require. Visa and appointment timing usually drives the search window, so start looking once your dates are confirmed, and have a letter from your home or host institution ready, since it helps both with housing and with arrival logistics in DC.

Ready to find your home near Howard? Browse off-campus home rentals, sublets, and home exchanges in Washington, DC, or list your own home for the scholars headed your way.