Harvard University
CAMBRIDGE, MA
Johns Hopkins University
BALTIMORE, MD
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Harvard vs Johns hopkins — US university comparison

Harvard University
HARVARD
Cambridge, MA
World rank · ARWU#1
Acceptance3.6%
Median SAT1553
Graduation rate97.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K
Johns Hopkins University
JOHNS HOPKINS
Baltimore, MD
World rank · ARWU#17
Acceptance6.4%
Median SAT1553
Graduation rate93.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$88K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Harvard University Johns Hopkins University
#1 World rank · ARWU #17
#3 Rank · THE #16
3.6% Acceptance rate 6.4%
1553 Median SAT 1553
97.6% Graduation rate 93.8%
21,189 Enrollment 30,210

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

3.6% Acceptance rate 6.4%
83.6% Yield rate 47%
1553 Median SAT 1553
4.20 Avg. GPA 3.90
54,008 Number of applications 45,895
25% Int'l students 32%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $88K
$139K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $89K
$200K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $135K
97.6% Graduation rate 93.8%
98% Retention rate 98.1%
$14,000 Median debt $10,250
$61,676 Tuition · year $65,230
$74,387 Avg. aid package $67,159
100% % of need met 99.5%
$22,262 Avg. graduate debt $30,803
$85 Application fee $70
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Harvard leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Yield83.6% vs 47%
Acceptance3.6% vs 6.4%
Grad. debt$22,262 vs $30,803

EXPERT TAKE

Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.6% vs 6.4% 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 ($61,676 vs $65,230 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

Admissions

Harvard is more selective (3.6% vs 6.4% acceptance).

Graduate outcomes

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%).

Cost and aid

Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($61,676 vs $65,230); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $67,159).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kHarvardJohns hopkins TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Harvard and Johns hopkins highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Harvard Johns hopkins
World rank · ARWU#1#17
Rank · THE#3#16
Acceptance rate3.6%6.4%
Yield rate83.6%47%
Median SAT15531553
Avg. GPA4.203.90
Number of applications54,00845,895
International students25%32%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$88K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$139K$89K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$200K$135K
Graduation rate97.6%93.8%
Retention rate98%98.1%
Median debt$14,000$10,250
Tuition · year$61,676$65,230
Avg. aid package$74,387$67,159
% of need met100%99.5%
Avg. graduate debt$22,262$30,803
Application fee$85$70
Enrollment21,18930,210

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Harvard or Johns hopkins?

It's harder to get into Harvard. Harvard accepts 3.6% of applicants, while Johns hopkins accepts 6.4%.

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 $61,676 per year at Harvard and $65,230 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 1553 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.

Compare Harvard with
Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Washington university Northwestern North carolina Duke
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.