Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Johns Hopkins University #70 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $117,419, placing Johns Hopkins University in the 99.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #2 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level anchor that reflects Johns Hopkins University's depth in high-return fields and its graduates' strong early-career earnings of $196,467. Students at Johns Hopkins University earn about $6,127 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 79.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a signal that graduates outperform what their academic backgrounds and field choices would predict at comparable institutions. Median earnings and program-level strength combine to make Johns Hopkins University one of the higher-ranked private universities on Azimuth's composite, with return on investment in the 98.0 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Johns Hopkins University #70 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University enrolls roughly 5,693 undergraduates. Retention stands at 98.1% and the six-year graduation rate reaches 93.8%, figures that place the university among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Johns Hopkins University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Johns Hopkins University #30 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $117,419, and graduates earn about $6,127 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Johns Hopkins University in the 79.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Biological Sciences, and the university's strength in the biological and health sciences — alongside engineering, public health, and quantitative fields — helps explain the strong post-graduation earnings profile. The composite is shaped by a narrower access footprint. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6.4% of applicants, a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls — 19.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 13.1% are first-generation. Access sits in the 83.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, while affordability reaches the 85.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions and mobility sits in the 85.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For admitted students who qualify for need-based aid, the university's financial aid policies can substantially reshape the sticker price, but the access and affordability pillars remain the areas that pull the composite below the return signal.
Johns Hopkins University's published cost of attendance is $85,947, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $428 per year in net price — a figure that reflects the university's commitment to meeting demonstrated financial need. Middle-income families see annual costs around $4,179, while higher-income families pay approximately $37,774. Azimuth ranks Johns Hopkins University #215 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial at institutions with deep aid programs; the net price illusion is worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the published cost of attendance alone. Need-based aid is the primary driver of Johns Hopkins University's pricing structure. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Aid packages are need-based, and the university has publicly committed to meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary — some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown here. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $10,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,048; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $117,419, median federal debt of $10,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $116 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Johns Hopkins University is a strong fit for students drawn to the biological sciences, public health, and research-intensive fields who want a private university experience in Baltimore, MD, and who are prepared for a highly selective admissions process — the university admits about 6.4% of applicants. Graduates earn about $6,127 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Johns Hopkins University in the 79.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, and median earnings four years after enrollment reach $117,419, placing the university in the 99.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based, and Johns Hopkins University enrolls 19.5% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 13.1% first-generation students — a comparatively small share relative to broad-access institutions, though the university's published aid policies aim to meet demonstrated financial need. Higher-income families should expect net prices approaching $37,774, and typical federal student debt at graduation runs around $10,250. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the admit rate of 6.4% makes the application process among the most competitive in the country, and the program portfolio is heavily concentrated in Biological Sciences and related research fields — students whose academic interests align with those areas, and who intend to pursue graduate or professional study, will find the strongest alignment with what Johns Hopkins University offers.
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. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Johns Hopkins University's published cost of attendance is $85,947, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $428 per year in net price — a figure that reflects the university's commitment to meeting demonstrated financial need.
Middle-income families see annual costs around $4,179, while higher-income families pay approximately $37,774. Azimuth ranks Johns Hopkins University #215 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial at institutions with deep aid programs; the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the published cost of attendance alone. Need-based aid is the primary driver of Johns Hopkins University's pricing structure.
The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Aid packages are need-based, and the university has publicly committed to meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary — some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown here. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $10,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,048; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $117,419, median federal debt of $10,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $116 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn median earnings of $117,419 four years after enrollment, placing Johns Hopkins University in the 99.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $6,127 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Johns Hopkins University in the 79.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Johns Hopkins University #30 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biological Sciences is the dominant program family, accounting for 16% of degrees, followed by Social Sciences at 15% and Arts at 5%. Artificial Intelligence combines large cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a central driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences #18 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 172 graduates earning median earnings of $56,543. The Artificial Intelligence program graduates 151 students with median earnings of $196,467, and Azimuth ranks the program #2 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Public Health #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 143 graduates earning median earnings of $79,113. Mathematics and Economics round out the top programs, with Azimuth ranking them #8 and #22 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, respectively.
Artificial Intelligence
151 graduates
Algebra and Number Theory
135 graduates
Applied Economics
132 graduates
American Government and Politics (United States)
44 graduates
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
100 graduates
Johns Hopkins University's program mix is anchored in biological sciences, quantitative fields, and applied research — a portfolio shaped by the university's identity as a research-intensive private institution in Baltimore. Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences is the largest program with 172 graduates annually, followed by Artificial Intelligence, Public Health, Mathematics, and Economics.
Biological Sciences dominates the degree portfolio at 16% of graduates, with Social Sciences at 15% and Arts at 5% rounding out the core concentration. Across 39 programs serving roughly 1,896 students annually, 14 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The highest four-year median earnings belong to Artificial Intelligence, where 151 graduates earn $196,467 four years after enrollment. Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #2 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Mathematics is another standout, with 135 graduates earning $134,785 — Azimuth ranks the program #8 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences program graduates 172 students with median earnings of $56,543, and Azimuth ranks it #18 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Several of Johns Hopkins University's strongest programs are grad-school-dependent pathways — particularly Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, and Mathematics — where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to medical school or doctoral programs. Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics, by contrast, are high-mobility programs where graduates enter the workforce directly.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princeton University Similar quality tier (#4189 ranked) | NJ | 5% | $110,066 | #4189 | Compare |
Duke University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4173 ranked) | NC | 6% | $97,800 | #4173 | Compare |
Vanderbilt University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4172 ranked) | TN | 6% | $91,565 | #4172 | Compare |
Rice University Similar quality tier (#4171 ranked) | TX | 8% | $89,718 | #4171 | Compare |
Northwestern University Similar quality tier (#4196 ranked) | IL | 8% | $89,363 | #4196 | Compare |
