Johns Hopkins vs. Penn State

Deciding between Johns Hopkins University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Johns Hopkins Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Johns Hopkins 30,210
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Johns Hopkins Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Johns Hopkins #10
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Johns Hopkins -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Johns Hopkins Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Johns Hopkins $20,150
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Johns Hopkins $26,017
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Johns Hopkins $59,977
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Johns Hopkins 60%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Johns Hopkins 45,895
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Johns Hopkins 2,954
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Johns Hopkins 6.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Johns Hopkins 1550
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Johns Hopkins 35
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Johns Hopkins 3.92
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Johns Hopkins A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Johns Hopkins Elite
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Johns Hopkins Extreme
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Johns Hopkins 34/36
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Johns Hopkins 1520/1570
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Johns Hopkins Required
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Johns Hopkins 6:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Johns Hopkins
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (4%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Johns Hopkins 91%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Johns Hopkins $85,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Johns Hopkins 81%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Johns Hopkins $15,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Johns Hopkins $155
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Johns Hopkins 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Johns Hopkins Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Johns Hopkins No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Johns Hopkins 41%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Johns Hopkins 22%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Johns Hopkins 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Johns Hopkins 5%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Johns Hopkins 10%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Johns Hopkins 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Johns Hopkins 71%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Johns Hopkins based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 30,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Johns Hopkins University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Johns Hopkins University 6:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Johns Hopkins vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Johns Hopkins or Penn State? 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 Johns Hopkins University than Penn State ($26,017 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 28.2% lower than at Johns Hopkins University ($14,474 vs. $20,150).
  • Johns Hopkins University is 216% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $44,586 more per year; $65,230.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.1% higher at Johns Hopkins than at Penn State Main Campus (about $23,440 more per year; $65,230.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Johns Hopkins University than at Penn State Main Campus (60% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Johns Hopkins University students is 429.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($59,977 vs. $11,336).

Johns Hopkins vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Johns Hopkins or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Johns Hopkins.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Johns Hopkins University (1550) is 220 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Johns Hopkins students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johns Hopkins University 1520/1570; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johns Hopkins University 34/36; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Johns Hopkins - Required; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Johns Hopkins (6.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47% at Johns Hopkins vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Johns Hopkins vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Johns Hopkins and Penn State? 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).

  • Johns Hopkins University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Penn State Main Campus's (87%).
  • Graduates from Johns Hopkins University earn a median of about $30,500 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Johns Hopkins University graduates have a $11,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Johns Hopkins graduates have an estimated $122 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($155 vs. $277).
  • More Johns Hopkins graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)

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.