Johns Hopkins University has reached an unprecedented milestone, climbing to the No. 6 position among national universities in the esteemed U.S. News & World Report rankings. This marks the highest ranking Johns Hopkins has ever achieved in the publication’s evaluation of the nation’s top undergraduate institutions.
The newly released annual list places Johns Hopkins in a tie for sixth place alongside the California Institute of Technology, Duke University, and Northwestern University, underscoring its position among the elite universities in the United States. Johns Hopkins has consistently been recognized as a leading institution by U.S. News & World Report, holding a spot within the top 10 since 2019 and in the top 20 for nearly every year since the rankings’ inception in the 1980s. These rankings assess universities based on a range of factors, including academic excellence, value, social mobility, and strengths in specific academic disciplines such as business, computer science, and engineering.
A significant factor contributing to Johns Hopkins’ high ranking is its commitment to affordability and accessibility. This year, the university notably held the distinction of having the lowest median student debt among all national universities ranked by U.S. News. This achievement is a direct result of the historic $1.8 billion gift from alumnus Michael R. Bloomberg dedicated to undergraduate financial aid. Since this transformative donation in 2018, the average federal loan debt for Hopkins graduates has been cut in half. Reflecting this commitment to value, U.S. News also ranked Johns Hopkins at No. 10 for value, a measure that combines academic quality with the net cost of attendance for students.
Beyond financial accessibility, Johns Hopkins is also lauded for its focus on innovation and research opportunities for undergraduates. The university secured the No. 10 spot for innovation and No. 12 for undergraduate research and creative projects. A remarkable 80% of Johns Hopkins undergraduates engage in at least one research experience during their academic journey, dedicating an average of 8 to 10 hours per week to these endeavors, according to the Hopkins Office for Undergraduate Research.
U.S. News & World Report also recognized Johns Hopkins’ leadership in specific undergraduate academic disciplines. The university holds the top position in biomedical engineering and is ranked No. 5 in biocomputer, bioinformatics, and biotechnology. Furthermore, Johns Hopkins has advanced to No. 18 in artificial intelligence, climbing three positions from the previous year. (Note that U.S. News releases graduate program rankings separately in the spring.) The complete list of Johns Hopkins’ undergraduate program rankings within the top 20 includes:
- No. 1 in Biomedical Engineering
- No. 5 in Biocomputer/Bioinformatics/Biotechnology
- No. 13 (Tie) in Engineering
- No. 14 (Tie) in Psychology
- No. 16 in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
- No. 18 in Artificial Intelligence
- No. 19 in Computer Science
- No. 20 in Mechanical Engineering
- No. 20 in Chemical Engineering
The 2024-2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluated nearly 1,500 U.S. four-year institutions using 17 measures of academic quality. These metrics encompass educational excellence, graduate outcomes, and factors relevant to students’ individual preferences, such as campus culture, program strengths, and financial aid availability. Johns Hopkins University’s improved ranking reflects its ongoing dedication to providing a world-class education and fostering a supportive and innovative environment for its students.
