BALTIMORE, MD

ST. LOUIS, MO

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Johns Hopkins vs Washington University - US university comparison

JOHNS HOPKINS

Baltimore, MD

World rank · ARWU#17

Acceptance6.44%

Median SAT1540

Graduation rate93.8%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$88K

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

St. Louis, MO

World rank · ARWU#23

Acceptance12.1%

Median SAT1540

Graduation rate94.3%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$86K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Johns Hopkins University Washington University in St. Louis

#17 World rank · ARWU #23

#16 Rank · THE #69

6.44% Acceptance rate 12.1%

1540 Median SAT 1540

93.8% Graduation rate 94.3%

30,210 Enrollment 16,357

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

6.44% Acceptance rate 12.1%

47% Yield rate 46.7%

1540 Median SAT 1540

3.93 Avg. GPA 4.19

45,895 Number of applications 32,754

15.2% Int'l students 9.4%

At a glance

Johns Hopkins leads in 6 of 12 measured metrics

Acceptance6.44% vs 12.1%

Debt$10,250 vs $17,500

Grad. debt$30,803 vs $26,666

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Johns Hopkins: 6.4% against 12.1% (Washington University).

The more international environment is at Johns Hopkins (15.2% international students) than Washington University (9.4%).

Average aid for an international student is $68,438 (Washington University) and $16,051 (Johns Hopkins).

The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Washington University starts at $94,289 against $89,539 and ends at $18,685 against $22,380 (Johns Hopkins).

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 12.1% acceptance). Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#17 vs #23). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($88K vs $86K). Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $69,594 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 Washington University for: a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package, 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 12.1% acceptance).

Graduate outcomes

Johns Hopkins graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($88K vs $86K); Washington University has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.3% vs 93.8%).

Cost and aid

Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $69,594); Washington University offers a larger average aid package ($75,604 vs $67,159).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Johns Hopkins and Washington University highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Johns Hopkins	Washington University
World rank · ARWU	#17	#23
Rank · THE	#16	#69
Acceptance rate	6.44%	12.1%
Yield rate	47%	46.7%
Median SAT	1540	1540
Avg. GPA	3.93	4.19
Number of applications	45,895	32,754
International students	15.2%	9.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$88K	$86K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$65K	$61K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$135K	$137K
Graduation rate	93.8%	94.3%
Retention rate	98.1%	95%
Median debt	$10,250	$17,500
Tuition · year	$67,170	$69,594
Avg. aid package	$67,159	$75,604
% of need met	99.5%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$30,803	$26,666
Application fee	$70	$75
Enrollment	30,210	16,357

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Johns Hopkins or Washington University?

It's harder to get into Johns Hopkins. Johns Hopkins accepts 6.44% of applicants, while Washington University accepts 12.1%.

Do Johns Hopkins or Washington University graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $88K at Johns Hopkins and $86K at Washington University.

How much is tuition at Johns Hopkins vs Washington University?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,170 per year at Johns Hopkins and $69,594 per year at Washington University.

What SAT score do you need for Johns Hopkins or Washington University?

The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Johns Hopkins and 1540 at Washington University; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Johns Hopkins or Washington University?

Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #17 for Johns Hopkins vs #23 for Washington University.

Which university offers more financial aid - Johns Hopkins or Washington University?

The average aid package is $67,159 at Johns Hopkins and $75,604 at Washington University.

Compare Johns Hopkins with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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.