ST. LOUIS, MO

BALTIMORE, MD

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Washington University vs Johns Hopkins - US university comparison

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

St. Louis, MO

World rank · ARWU#23

Acceptance12.1%

Median SAT1540

Graduation rate94.3%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$86K

JOHNS HOPKINS

Baltimore, MD

World rank · ARWU#17

Acceptance6.44%

Median SAT1540

Graduation rate93.8%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$88K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Washington University in St. Louis Johns Hopkins University

#23 World rank · ARWU #17

#69 Rank · THE #16

12.1% Acceptance rate 6.44%

1540 Median SAT 1540

94.3% Graduation rate 93.8%

16,357 Enrollment 30,210

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

12.1% Acceptance rate 6.44%

46.7% Yield rate 47%

1540 Median SAT 1540

4.19 Avg. GPA 3.93

32,754 Number of applications 45,895

9.4% Int'l students 15.2%

At a glance

Johns Hopkins leads in 6 of 12 measured metrics

Acceptance12.1% vs 6.44%

Debt$17,500 vs $10,250

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

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 (#23 vs #17). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($86K vs $88K). 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 Washington University for: a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package, 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

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; Washington University and Johns Hopkins highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

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

Do Washington University or Johns Hopkins graduates earn more?

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

How much is tuition at Washington University vs Johns Hopkins?

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

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

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

Which university ranks higher - Washington University or Johns Hopkins?

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

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

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

Compare Washington University 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.