Southern California vs Johns Hopkins - 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: Southern California awards international students $25,384 on average, Johns Hopkins awards $16,051.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (6.4% and 9.8%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Johns Hopkins: 1540 against 1495, a gap of 45 points.
Tuition is practically the same ($68,687 against $67,170), so financial aid, not the sticker price, will decide the cost.
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
Johns Hopkins is the more selective of the two (6.44% vs 9.81% acceptance). Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #17). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $88K). Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package, lower graduate debt.
Choose Johns Hopkins for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Johns Hopkins is more selective (6.44% vs 9.81% acceptance); Johns Hopkins has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1495).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $88K); Johns Hopkins has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.8% vs 91.8%).
Johns Hopkins has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,170 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $67,159).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Johns Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #17 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | #16 |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 6.44% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 47% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 45,895 |
| International students | 13.2% | 15.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $88K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 93.8% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $10,250 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $67,170 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $67,159 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 99.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $30,803 |
| Application fee | $85 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 30,210 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Johns Hopkins?
It's harder to get into Johns Hopkins. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Johns Hopkins accepts 6.44%.
Do Southern California or Johns Hopkins graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $88K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Johns Hopkins?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $67,170 per year at Johns Hopkins.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Johns Hopkins?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1540 at Johns Hopkins; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Johns Hopkins?
Johns Hopkins ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #17 for Johns Hopkins.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Johns Hopkins?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $67,159 at Johns Hopkins.
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