Johns Hopkins vs. BU

Deciding between Johns Hopkins University and Boston 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
Boston University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Johns Hopkins Large City
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Johns Hopkins 30,210
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Johns Hopkins Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Johns Hopkins #10
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Johns Hopkins -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Johns Hopkins Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Johns Hopkins
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Johns Hopkins $20,150
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Johns Hopkins $26,017
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Johns Hopkins $59,977
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Johns Hopkins 60%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Johns Hopkins 45,895
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Johns Hopkins 2,954
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Johns Hopkins 6.4%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Johns Hopkins 1550
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Johns Hopkins 35
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Johns Hopkins 3.92
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Johns Hopkins A
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Johns Hopkins Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Johns Hopkins Extreme
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Johns Hopkins 34/36
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Johns Hopkins 1520/1570
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Johns Hopkins Required
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Johns Hopkins 6:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Johns Hopkins
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (4%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Johns Hopkins 91%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Johns Hopkins $85,800
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Johns Hopkins 81%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Johns Hopkins $15,000
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Johns Hopkins $155
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Johns Hopkins 53%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Johns Hopkins Very High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Johns Hopkins No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Johns Hopkins 41%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Johns Hopkins 22%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Johns Hopkins 6%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Johns Hopkins 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Johns Hopkins 10%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Johns Hopkins 3%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Johns Hopkins 71%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Johns Hopkins based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 30,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Johns Hopkins University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Johns Hopkins University 6:1; Boston University 10:1.

Johns Hopkins vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Johns Hopkins or BU? 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 Boston University than Johns Hopkins ($24,420 vs. $26,017).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 5.6% lower than at Johns Hopkins University ($19,020 vs. $20,150).
  • Boston University is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Johns Hopkins (about $2,872 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,230.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at BU than at Johns Hopkins University (about $2,872 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,230.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Johns Hopkins University than at Boston University (60% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Johns Hopkins University students ($61,848 vs. $59,977).

Johns Hopkins vs. BU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Johns Hopkins University (1550) is 70 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Johns Hopkins students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johns Hopkins University 1520/1570; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johns Hopkins University 34/36; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Johns Hopkins - Required; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Johns Hopkins students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Johns Hopkins (6.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47% at Johns Hopkins vs. 37.4% at BU.

Johns Hopkins vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Johns Hopkins and BU? 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 Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Johns Hopkins University earn a median of about $13,800 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,800 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Johns Hopkins University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Johns Hopkins graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($155 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Johns Hopkins students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.