How to get into Hampton University
How to get into Hampton: an HBCU with rolling admissions, strong pre-health and business programs, and competitive scholarship rounds
62.3%
Acceptance rate
$30,592
In-state cost
What makes Hampton University admissions different
Hampton University in Hampton, VA, is a private historically Black university (HBCU) with around 3,700 undergraduates. Acceptance rate around 62%. Strong programs in nursing, pharmacy (six-year PharmD), business, marine science, and communications. The campus sits on the Virginia Peninsula and has a distinctive military-influenced residential culture (the Hampton Code of Conduct, mandatory dress codes for certain events).
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or Hampton application by Early Decision (November 1), Early Action (December 1), or Regular Decision (March 1).
- 2.
Submit the Hampton supplement. The 'why Hampton' essay reads for engagement with the HBCU mission and specific programs.
- 3.
Hampton is test-optional. Submit SAT/ACT only if they strengthen your application.
- 4.
Apply for the Presidential Scholarship and other top merit awards by the competitive scholarship deadline.
- 5.
Pre-pharmacy applicants: the six-year direct-entry PharmD program has its own admission requirements and is competitive within the school.
- 6.
Nursing applicants: BSN program has its own admission with separate prerequisites.
- 7.
File the FAFSA early.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the competitive scholarship deadline. The top awards close early.
- ✕
Treating the Code of Conduct as optional. Hampton's residential culture is structured and traditional — students who don't engage often feel constrained.
- ✕
Pharmacy applicants not knowing about the six-year direct-entry pathway.
- ✕
Skipping the FAFSA.
The specifics for Hampton University
Application deadlines
- Early DecisionNovember 1, 2025Binding
- Early ActionDecember 1, 2025
- Regular DecisionMarch 1, 2026
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Six-year direct-entry PharmD
Hampton's School of Pharmacy offers a six-year direct-entry PharmD program from high school. Competitive entry within Hampton admission.
Hampton Code of Conduct
Structured residential culture with traditional dress codes for certain events. Distinctive HBCU experience.
Notable scholarships at Hampton University
Presidential Scholarship
Top competitive merit award.
What graduates actually do
Hampton University is a private historically Black university (HBCU) founded in 1868 in Virginia. Often called the 'Standard of Excellence' among HBCUs, Hampton has played a foundational role in producing the Black professional class, particularly in medicine, business, education, and the military. Booker T. Washington was its most famous early alumnus. Hampton's School of Business, School of Nursing, and School of Pharmacy are top producers of Black professionals nationally.
Notable alumni
- Booker T. Washington — Educator/founder of Tuskegee
- Wanda Sykes — Comedian
- Spencer Christian — Weather forecaster
- Marie McDemmond — First Black woman to head a Virginia public university
- Ruth Carter — Academy Award-winning costume designer
- Mark Curry — Comedian
Transfer pathway
Hampton accepts transfers each semester. The university has articulation arrangements with Virginia Community College System (VCCS) institutions, particularly Thomas Nelson Community College and Tidewater Community College. The Virginia Guaranteed Admission Agreements may apply to qualifying VCCS graduates. Minimum 2.5 GPA for most majors; pharmacy, nursing, and selective business programs require higher. Up to 60 credits transfer from two-year colleges.
Articulation partners
Virginia Peninsula Community College · Tidewater Community College · Norfolk State University · Paul D. Camp Community College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
Hampton is a target for applicants in the 3.3+ GPA range who want an HBCU with strong pre-health and business programs. ED is the highest-leverage move for committed candidates. Competitive merit awards close early — apply with timing in mind.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.