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

Johns hopkins vs Harvard — US university comparison

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

KEY DATA

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

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

6.4% Acceptance rate 3.6%
47% Yield rate 83.6%
1553 Median SAT 1553
3.90 Avg. GPA 4.20
45,895 Number of applications 54,008
32% Int'l students 25%
$88K Median earnings · 10 yrs $102K
$89K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $139K
$135K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $200K
93.8% Graduation rate 97.6%
98.1% Retention rate 98%
$10,250 Median debt $14,000
$65,230 Tuition · year $61,676
$67,159 Avg. aid package $74,387
99.5% % of need met 100%
$30,803 Avg. graduate debt $22,262
$70 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Harvard leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Yield47% vs 83.6%
Acceptance6.4% vs 3.6%
Grad. debt$30,803 vs $22,262

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 (#17 vs #1). 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 Johns hopkins for: higher retention.

Choose Harvard for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

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$80kJohns hopkinsHarvard TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Johns hopkins and Harvard highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Johns hopkins Harvard
World rank · ARWU#17#1
Rank · THE#16#3
Acceptance rate6.4%3.6%
Yield rate47%83.6%
Median SAT15531553
Avg. GPA3.904.20
Number of applications45,89554,008
International students32%25%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$88K$102K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$89K$139K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$135K$200K
Graduation rate93.8%97.6%
Retention rate98.1%98%
Median debt$10,250$14,000
Tuition · year$65,230$61,676
Avg. aid package$67,159$74,387
% of need met99.5%100%
Avg. graduate debt$30,803$22,262
Application fee$70$85
Enrollment30,21021,189

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Johns hopkins or Harvard?

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

Do Johns hopkins or Harvard graduates earn more?

Harvard graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $88K.

How much is tuition at Johns hopkins vs Harvard?

Sticker-price tuition is $65,230 per year at Johns hopkins and $61,676 per year at Harvard.

What SAT score do you need for Johns hopkins or Harvard?

The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Johns hopkins and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Johns hopkins or Harvard?

Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #17 for Johns hopkins vs #1 for Harvard.

Which university offers more financial aid — Johns hopkins or Harvard?

The average aid package is $67,159 at Johns hopkins and $74,387 at Harvard.

Compare Johns hopkins 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.