Johns Hopkins University
BALTIMORE, MD
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Johns Hopkins vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

Johns Hopkins University
JOHNS HOPKINS
Baltimore, MD
World rank · ARWU#17
Acceptance6.44%
Median SAT1540
Graduation rate93.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$88K
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Champaign, Illinois
World rank · ARWU#55
Acceptance42.37%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate85.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Johns Hopkins University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#17 World rank · ARWU #55
#16 Rank · THE #46
6.44% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1540 Median SAT 1470
93.8% Graduation rate 85.1%
30,210 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

6.44% Acceptance rate 42.37%
47% Yield rate 28.8%
1540 Median SAT 1470
3.93 Avg. GPA -
45,895 Number of applications 73,742
15.2% Int'l students 14.9%
$88K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$65K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$135K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
93.8% Graduation rate 85.1%
98.1% Retention rate 94.8%
$10,250 Median debt $19,500
$67,170 Tuition · year $38,400
$67,159 Avg. aid package $23,217
99.5% % of need met 0.8%
$30,803 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$70 Application fee $50
$16,051 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Johns Hopkins leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
% of need99.5% vs 0.8%
Acceptance6.44% vs 42.37%
Aid$67,159 vs $23,217

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Johns Hopkins: 6.4% against 42.4% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

Real money goes to international students at Johns Hopkins ($16,051 on average), while Illinois Urbana-Champaign stops at $5,836.

The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Johns Hopkins lists $89,539 against $57,284 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign), but after average aid what remains is $22,380 against $34,067.

70 points separate the SAT profiles: 1540 (Johns Hopkins) against 1470.

The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.

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 42.37% acceptance). Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#17 vs #55). Johns Hopkins graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($88K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 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 Johns Hopkins for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Johns Hopkins is more selective (6.44% vs 42.37% acceptance); Johns Hopkins has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).

Graduate outcomes

Johns Hopkins graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($88K vs $81K); Johns Hopkins has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.8% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $67,170); Johns Hopkins offers a larger average aid package ($67,159 vs $23,217).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kJohns HopkinsIllinois Urbana-Champaign TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Johns Hopkins and Illinois Urbana-Champaign highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Johns Hopkins Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#17#55
Rank · THE#16#46
Acceptance rate6.44%42.37%
Yield rate47%28.8%
Median SAT15401470
Avg. GPA3.93-
Number of applications45,89573,742
International students15.2%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$88K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$65K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$135K$117K
Graduation rate93.8%85.1%
Retention rate98.1%94.8%
Median debt$10,250$19,500
Tuition · year$67,170$38,400
Avg. aid package$67,159$23,217
% of need met99.5%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$30,803$22,395
Application fee$70$50
Enrollment30,21059,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Johns Hopkins or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

It's harder to get into Johns Hopkins. Johns Hopkins accepts 6.44% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Johns Hopkins or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Johns Hopkins graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $88K vs $81K.

How much is tuition at Johns Hopkins vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,170 per year at Johns Hopkins and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What SAT score do you need for Johns Hopkins or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Johns Hopkins and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Johns Hopkins or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #17 for Johns Hopkins vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Which university offers more financial aid - Johns Hopkins or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The average aid package is $67,159 at Johns Hopkins and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Johns Hopkins with
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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.