Johns Hopkins combines highly selective admissions with exceptional post-graduation earnings outcomes. As a Selective Achievers institution, the university produces graduates earning $87,555 while maintaining among the lowest debt levels nationally at $10,250, supporting long-term financial stability.
With top-tier outcomes, driven by strong long-term earnings relative to educational investment
With well above average performance, reflecting controlled costs and exceptionally low debt levels
With well above average performance, reflecting the university's ability to support economic advancement despite limited low-income access
With well above average performance, reflecting the university's ability to support economic advancement despite limited low-income access
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisJohns Hopkins delivers strong absolute earnings outcomes alongside exceptional debt management. Graduates earn a median of $87,555 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 96th percentile nationally and $24,489 above the peer median of $63,066.
Earnings range from $64,509 at the 25th percentile to $135,223 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career paths across disciplines. Low-income graduates earn $106,100, ranking in the top 5% nationally on this outcome measure.
Students seeking highly selective admissions with strong post-graduation earning potential, particularly in engineering, computer science, health sciences, and social sciences. Well-suited for ambitious students who can manage rigorous academics and want access to prestigious research opportunities with excellent long-term financial outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Johns Hopkins University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/johns-hopkins-university/analysis.
Top 5% nationally for median earnings
Johns Hopkins University ranks #129 nationally with top-tier performance at the 92.1st percentile, leading with excellent return performance at the 91.2nd percentile. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this medium-sized private nonprofit university maintains highly selective admission standards with a 7.6% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Johns Hopkins enrolls 19.8% Pell-eligible students and 13.1% first-generation students, positioning it as a Selective Achievers institution that serves fewer low-income students while producing strong outcomes. Graduates demonstrate median earnings of $87,555 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 96th percentile nationally.
However, earnings fall $10,700 below expectations relative to similar students, placing it in the 14th percentile for earnings beyond expectations. This combination of highly selective admissions, limited low-income access, and strong absolute earnings defines Johns Hopkins' profile within the Selective Achievers quadrant.
Johns Hopkins admits approximately 7.6% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 13 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Johns Hopkins among the most selective universities in the United States, falling within the Most Selective tier for institutions admitting fewer than 10% of applicants.
The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Johns Hopkins' selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private research universities, Johns Hopkins' acceptance rate represents highly competitive admission standards.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students with outstanding test scores and academic records face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would excel at Johns Hopkins do not receive admission due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots.
Students considering Johns Hopkins should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. Treating Johns Hopkins as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy, given the unpredictable nature of highly selective admission processes.
Artificial Intelligence.
128 graduates
Algebra and Number Theory.
95 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
16 graduates
Applied Economics.
112 graduates
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
130 graduates
Johns Hopkins offers 18 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for ranking. Behavioral Aspects of Health ranks #1 nationally and #1 in Maryland, producing 171 graduates with median earnings of $77,335 and a perfect value score of 100.0.
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering ranks #2 nationally and #1 in Maryland, graduating 130 students with median earnings of $101,300. Artificial Intelligence ranks #10 nationally and #1 in Maryland, with 128 graduates earning $140,666.
Applied Economics ranks #22 nationally and #1 in Maryland, graduating 112 students with median earnings of $108,040. Algebra and Number Theory ranks #7 nationally and #1 in Maryland, with 95 graduates earning $117,066.
International Relations and Affairs ranks #13 nationally and #1 in Maryland, graduating 100 students with median earnings of $72,053, demonstrating Johns Hopkins' dominance across multiple academic disciplines.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Johns Hopkins' published cost of attendance reaches $81,300 annually, including $63,340 in tuition, $19,910 for room and board, and $1,345 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays significantly less after financial aid, with a net price of $18,161 representing substantial savings of $63,139 from the sticker price.
This net price falls $8,982 below the peer median of $27,143, indicating stronger financial aid than comparable institutions. The dramatic difference between published cost and actual net price reflects Johns Hopkins' commitment to making education accessible despite high sticker prices.
Net costs vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $1,473 for families earning under $30,000 to $38,745 for families earning over $110,000. This progressive pricing structure ensures that lower-income families pay substantially less while higher-income families shoulder more of the educational costs.
Federal College Scorecard data shows that financial aid reduces costs for the majority of students, with the $18,161 average net price representing what typical families actually pay rather than the published sticker price that often discourages applications.
Johns Hopkins graduates achieve strong earnings outcomes with steady growth over time. Median earnings rise from $86,306 six years after enrollment to $94,324 at eight years and $87,555 at ten years, representing modest 1.4% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 1,162 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $87,555 at the ten-year mark, placing Johns Hopkins in the 96th percentile for absolute earnings nationally.
Low-income graduates earn $106,100, ranking among the top 5% of institutions nationally. Earnings span from $64,509 at the 25th percentile to $135,223 at the 75th percentile, reflecting a 2.1:1 ratio that indicates meaningful variation across programs and career trajectories.
Approximately 31.0% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and workforce entry across diverse academic programs.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Saint Joseph's University Higher acceptance rate (78.8 percentage points higher) and located 87 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 86% | $86,881 | Compare |
Capitol Technology University Higher acceptance rate (70.4 percentage points higher) and located 23 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MD | 78% | $85,035 | Compare |
Loyola University Maryland Higher acceptance rate (68.8 percentage points higher) and located 1 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MD | 76% | $82,652 | Compare |
Manhattan College Higher acceptance rate (70.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 78% | $86,316 | Compare |
Clarkson University Higher acceptance rate (69.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 77% | $89,696 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown University Similar quality tier (#129 ranked) | RI | 5% | $93,487 | #129 | Compare |
Babson College Similar quality tier (#131 ranked) | MA | 20% | $123,938 | #131 | Compare |
Dartmouth College Similar quality tier (#133 ranked) | NH | 6% | $97,434 | #133 | Compare |
Lehigh University Similar quality tier (#120 ranked) | PA | 29% | $105,584 | #120 | Compare |
Washington And Lee University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#143 ranked) | VA | 17% | $94,810 | #143 | Compare |
