Harvard vs Johns Hopkins - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Harvard awards international students $81,046 on average, Johns Hopkins awards $16,051.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Harvard: $102K against $88K.
At 3.6% and 6.4%, both admissions processes remain a lottery for any candidate; the difference between them is not an argument here.
Students admitted to both more often choose Harvard (83.6% enrol, against 47%).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.65% vs 6.44% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#1 vs #17). Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $88K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $67,170 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Harvard for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Johns Hopkins for: higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Harvard is more selective (3.65% vs 6.44% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $88K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 93.8%).
Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $67,170); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $67,159).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Harvard | Johns Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #1 | #17 |
| Rank · THE | #3 | #16 |
| Acceptance rate | 3.65% | 6.44% |
| Yield rate | 83.6% | 47% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.21 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 54,008 | 45,895 |
| International students | 15.7% | 15.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $102K | $88K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $65K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $200K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 97.6% | 93.8% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $10,250 |
| Tuition · year | $64,796 | $67,170 |
| Avg. aid package | $74,387 | $67,159 |
| % of need met | 100% | 99.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,262 | $30,803 |
| Application fee | $85 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 21,189 | 30,210 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Harvard or Johns Hopkins?
It's harder to get into Harvard. Harvard accepts 3.65% of applicants, while Johns Hopkins accepts 6.44%.
Do Harvard or Johns Hopkins graduates earn more?
Harvard graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $88K.
How much is tuition at Harvard vs Johns Hopkins?
Sticker-price tuition is $64,796 per year at Harvard and $67,170 per year at Johns Hopkins.
What SAT score do you need for Harvard or Johns Hopkins?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Harvard and 1540 at Johns Hopkins; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Harvard or Johns Hopkins?
Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #1 for Harvard vs #17 for Johns Hopkins.
Which university offers more financial aid - Harvard or Johns Hopkins?
The average aid package is $74,387 at Harvard and $67,159 at Johns Hopkins.
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina
Duke