Towson University vs Johns Hopkins University: which has better ROI?
Johns Hopkins University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,236 in 1.9 years versus 4.3 years at Towson University, on median earnings of $87,555 vs $64,390 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Towson University | Johns Hopkins University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,413 | $18,809 |
| Total net cost | $69,652 | $75,236 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,390 | $87,555 |
| Median debt | $18,718 | $10,250 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $250,948 | $708,664 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Towson University or Johns Hopkins University?
Towson University, at $17,413 a year after aid versus $18,809 — a gap of $1,396 a year, or $5,584 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Towson University or Johns Hopkins University graduates earn more?
Johns Hopkins University graduates report a median $87,555 ten years after entry, $23,165 more than the $64,390 at Towson University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Towson University or Johns Hopkins University?
Johns Hopkins University: its completers carry a median $10,250 in federal loans versus $18,718 at Towson University, a difference of $8,468. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Johns Hopkins University, against 69% at Towson University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.