North Carolina vs Johns Hopkins - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Johns Hopkins: 6.4% against 15.3% (North Carolina).
The larger international cohort belongs to Johns Hopkins: 15.2% of students against 6.4% (North Carolina).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Johns Hopkins reports aid for international students ($16,051 on average), North Carolina does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Johns Hopkins starts at $89,539 against $60,888 and ends at $22,380 against $40,183 (North Carolina).
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 15.34% acceptance). Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #17). Johns Hopkins graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($88K vs $72K). North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 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 North Carolina for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Johns Hopkins 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
Johns Hopkins is more selective (6.44% vs 15.34% acceptance); Johns Hopkins has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
Johns Hopkins graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($88K vs $72K); Johns Hopkins has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.8% vs 91.2%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $67,170); Johns Hopkins offers a larger average aid package ($67,159 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | North Carolina | Johns Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #35 | #17 |
| Rank · THE | #70 | #16 |
| Acceptance rate | 15.34% | 6.44% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 47% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.49 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 66,535 | 45,895 |
| International students | 6.4% | 15.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $72K | $88K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $48K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $112K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 91.2% | 93.8% |
| Retention rate | 96.6% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $10,250 |
| Tuition · year | $45,228 | $67,170 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,705 | $67,159 |
| % of need met | 100% | 99.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,382 | $30,803 |
| Application fee | $85 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 32,680 | 30,210 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into North Carolina or Johns Hopkins?
It's harder to get into Johns Hopkins. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Johns Hopkins accepts 6.44%.
Do North Carolina or Johns Hopkins graduates earn more?
Johns Hopkins graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $88K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Johns Hopkins?
Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $67,170 per year at Johns Hopkins.
What SAT score do you need for North Carolina or Johns Hopkins?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at North Carolina and 1540 at Johns Hopkins; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Johns Hopkins?
Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #17 for Johns Hopkins.
Which university offers more financial aid - North Carolina or Johns Hopkins?
The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $67,159 at Johns Hopkins.
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