Johns Hopkins vs Boston College - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Johns Hopkins admits 6.4% of applicants, while Boston College admits 16.2%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 15.2% (Johns Hopkins) against 6.6% (Boston College).
Real money goes to international students at Boston College ($39,634 on average), while Johns Hopkins stops at $16,051.
The tuition gap is $6,338 a year: $67,170 (Johns Hopkins) against $73,508.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Johns Hopkins is the more selective of the two (6.44% vs 16.19% acceptance). Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#17 vs #501-600). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $88K). Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $73,508 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 Johns Hopkins for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Boston College for: higher graduate earnings, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Johns Hopkins is more selective (6.44% vs 16.19% acceptance); Johns Hopkins has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1500).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $88K); Johns Hopkins has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.8% vs 90.8%).
Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $73,508); Johns Hopkins offers a larger average aid package ($67,159 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Johns Hopkins | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #17 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #16 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 6.44% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 47% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.93 | - |
| Number of applications | 45,895 | 34,779 |
| International students | 15.2% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $88K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $65K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $135K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 93.8% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 96% |
| Median debt | $10,250 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $67,170 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,159 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 99.5% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,803 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $70 | - |
| Enrollment | 30,210 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Johns Hopkins or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Johns Hopkins. Johns Hopkins accepts 6.44% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Johns Hopkins or Boston College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $88K.
How much is tuition at Johns Hopkins vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,170 per year at Johns Hopkins and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Johns Hopkins or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Johns Hopkins and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Johns Hopkins or Boston College?
Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #17 for Johns Hopkins vs #501-600 for Boston College.
Which university offers more financial aid - Johns Hopkins or Boston College?
The average aid package is $67,159 at Johns Hopkins and $61,753 at Boston College.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina