Johns Hopkins vs Duke - 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: Duke awards international students $90,599 on average, Johns Hopkins awards $16,051.
On paper the cheaper option is Johns Hopkins: $67,170 against $73,172, which is $6,002 less a year.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Duke: $98K against $88K.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (5.7% and 6.4%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
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
Duke is the more selective of the two (5.71% vs 6.44% acceptance). Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#17 vs #39). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $88K). Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $73,172 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 retention, lower tuition.
Choose Duke for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Duke is more selective (5.71% vs 6.44% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1540).
Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $88K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 93.8%).
Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $73,172); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $67,159).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Johns Hopkins | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #17 | #39 |
| Rank · THE | #16 | #27 |
| Acceptance rate | 6.44% | 5.71% |
| Yield rate | 47% | 58.8% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1548 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.93 | - |
| Number of applications | 45,895 | 51,795 |
| International students | 15.2% | 10.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $88K | $98K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $65K | $66K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $135K | $172K |
| Graduation rate | 93.8% | 96.8% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 98% |
| Median debt | $10,250 | $13,000 |
| Tuition · year | $67,170 | $73,172 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,159 | $72,437 |
| % of need met | 99.5% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,803 | $27,515 |
| Application fee | $70 | - |
| Enrollment | 30,210 | 17,499 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Johns Hopkins or Duke?
It's harder to get into Duke. Johns Hopkins accepts 6.44% of applicants, while Duke accepts 5.71%.
Do Johns Hopkins or Duke graduates earn more?
Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $88K.
How much is tuition at Johns Hopkins vs Duke?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,170 per year at Johns Hopkins and $73,172 per year at Duke.
What SAT score do you need for Johns Hopkins or Duke?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Johns Hopkins and 1548 at Duke; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Johns Hopkins or Duke?
Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #17 for Johns Hopkins vs #39 for Duke.
Which university offers more financial aid - Johns Hopkins or Duke?
The average aid package is $67,159 at Johns Hopkins and $72,437 at Duke.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina