Johns Hopkins vs. Harvard

Deciding between Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Johns Hopkins University
Harvard University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Johns Hopkins Large City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Johns Hopkins 30,210
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Johns Hopkins Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Johns Hopkins #10
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Johns Hopkins -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Johns Hopkins Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Johns Hopkins $20,150
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Johns Hopkins $26,017
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Johns Hopkins $59,977
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Johns Hopkins 60%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Johns Hopkins 45,895
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Johns Hopkins 2,954
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Johns Hopkins 6.4%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Johns Hopkins 1550
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Johns Hopkins 35
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Johns Hopkins 3.92
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Johns Hopkins A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Johns Hopkins Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Johns Hopkins Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Johns Hopkins 34/36
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Johns Hopkins 1520/1570
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Johns Hopkins Required
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Johns Hopkins 6:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Johns Hopkins
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (4%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Johns Hopkins 91%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Johns Hopkins $85,800
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Johns Hopkins 81%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Johns Hopkins $15,000
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Johns Hopkins $155
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Johns Hopkins 53%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Johns Hopkins Very High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Johns Hopkins No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Johns Hopkins 41%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Johns Hopkins 22%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Johns Hopkins 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Johns Hopkins 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Johns Hopkins 10%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Johns Hopkins 3%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Johns Hopkins 71%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Johns Hopkins Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Johns Hopkins No
  • Harvard Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Johns Hopkins Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Johns Hopkins Yes
  • Harvard No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Johns Hopkins No
  • Harvard Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Johns Hopkins based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 30,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Johns Hopkins University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Johns Hopkins University 6:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Johns Hopkins vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Johns Hopkins or Harvard? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Johns Hopkins ($17,525 vs. $26,017).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Johns Hopkins University are 4.9% lower than at Harvard University ($20,150 vs. $21,190).
  • Johns Hopkins University is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,554 more per year; $65,230.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Johns Hopkins than at Harvard University (about $3,554 more per year; $65,230.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Johns Hopkins University than at Harvard University (60% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 13.4% larger than aid received by Johns Hopkins University students ($68,015 vs. $59,977).

Johns Hopkins vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Johns Hopkins or Harvard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Harvard and Johns Hopkins.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Johns Hopkins University (1550) is the same as at Harvard (1550).
  • Incoming Johns Hopkins students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 35) as students at Harvard (35).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johns Hopkins University 1520/1570; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johns Hopkins University 34/36; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Johns Hopkins - Required; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Johns Hopkins (3.92).
  • Johns Hopkins has a higher acceptance rate (6.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47% at Johns Hopkins vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Johns Hopkins vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Johns Hopkins and Harvard? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Johns Hopkins University's (91%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $50,900 more per year than Johns Hopkins graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $85,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Johns Hopkins graduates ($6,500 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Johns Hopkins graduates ($67 vs. $155).
  • More Johns Hopkins graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.