Howard University's Billing Nightmare

Shalena
Jul 28
4 min read

By Shalena Speaks | July 2025

Students Blindsided by Surprise Debt Notices??

Something is going down at Howard University — and not in a good way.

Hundreds of students recently logged into their accounts only to find out they allegedly owed tens of thousands of dollars in surprise tuition bills. Some said they were being told they owed up to $50,000 — even after financial aid had already been awarded and applied. What was supposed to be a routine platform upgrade turned into a campus-wide crisis, affecting course registration, housing, and jobs.

Let’s break down how this mess started, what students are saying online, and what the university claims they’re doing to fix it.

From BisonWeb to BisonHub… and Into Chaos

Earlier this year, Howard University transitioned from its old student portal, BisonWeb, to a new system called BisonHub. While this change was meant to make account and aid access smoother in the long run, it led to massive billing errors in the short term.

Students who had previously been in good standing suddenly had holds placed on their accounts, lost campus housing, and couldn’t register for classes — all because the new system showed enormous “balances due” from previous semesters.

“Right now, it says I owe that $57,540‑something … That’s not even one semester’s worth of tuition. What is this?”– Alissa Jones, senior at Howard University (Black Enterprise)

Many students say they were never properly notified about the system change or told how it might affect their financial aid visibility. Suddenly, it was like their aid vanished — and they were being blamed for it.

What People Are Saying on X (Formerly Twitter)

The online community — especially Black Twitter — had a lot to say:

@DreamWithJay:“HOW do y’all ‘accidentally’ bill students $30K+ after a software change?! Fix it FAST. Howard playing with people’s futures.”

@MoreLife_Les:“Imagine preparing to graduate, only to wake up to a message saying you owe $45,000. On a FRIDAY. A mess.”

@GrownBlkWoman:“Howard needs to take accountability. Students are literally homeless, stressed out, and locked out of housing they already paid for.”

@BeBlackandProud:“This could’ve been a tech rollout win. Instead it turned into a trauma trigger for Black students already fighting to stay in school.”

What the University Is Saying

Howard did issue an official statement via their website and social media, acknowledging the errors. They admitted the rollout of BisonHub came with delays and that some students’ accounts weren’t properly updated with financial aid, scholarships, or grants that had already been awarded.

According to the school:

Around 1,000 students were impacted.
Over $210 million in aid was awarded last year.
Affected students are being offered emergency grants, payment plans, and financial counseling to help correct the issue.
Students with unresolved holds are being asked to meet with financial counselors or submit documentation showing they had cleared prior balances.

But for many students, this all feels too little, too late — especially those who say they’ve lost jobs, dorm placements, or time off their academic path.

Campus Reactions: Video Coverage

News outlets have picked up the story, and some student-led YouTube channels and TikToks are documenting their experiences.

In one viral video, a student broke down in tears as she showed screenshots of her $48,000 “balance” — just months before graduation.

NBC Washington also aired a segment titled:"Howard Students Discover Massive Account Balances After Financial System Change" — featuring interviews with students who say they were “blindsided” by the charges.

The Real Cost: Mental Health, Housing & Hope

Let’s not gloss over the human cost here.

Students are losing sleep and battling anxiety from being unsure if they can return in the fall.
Some are couch surfing or looking for off-campus housing because their dorm access was revoked.
Seniors are wondering if they’ll be able to graduate at all.

This isn’t just a paperwork glitch — this is about real people who already beat the odds to attend an HBCU and now feel like the system is failing them.

Let me be clear: Howard University is an institution we respect, celebrate, and uplift. But like any system, it’s not above accountability.

These students deserve better.

They deserve transparency, real-time support, and a system that works for them — not against them. Many come from working-class Black families, first-gen college backgrounds, and single-parent households. What’s happening right now is more than inconvenient — it’s a violation of trust

To the students standing up and speaking out: I see you. I hear you. And I stand with you.

Want to Help?

Follow the hashtag #HowardHold on X to keep up with student-led updates.
Donate to student aid fundraisers being posted across social media.
Share this article and help spread awareness — because silence helps no one.