Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University | Overview

Johns Hopkins students have big ideas and want to change the world. From day one, undergrads are given the freedom to chart their own academic paths and the support to follow their interests both in and outside the classroom. That freedom starts with the school’s financial aid philosophy: Students who are primed to thrive on a campus where diversity of thought drives its academic culture shouldn’t be limited by their family’s ability to pay.

Students who are admitted to Hopkins and apply for financial aid receive a package that meets 100% of their demonstrated need through grants and work-study—money that doesn’t need to be paid back. Without the burden of loans, equipped with an education that opens doors, Hopkins students have the freedom to boldly explore ways to apply their knowledge and talents. That could mean pursuing multiple majors, taking on an unpaid internship or research experience, studying abroad, or devoting time to a cause or community. Those opportunities abound on campus, and Hopkins supports its students throughout their time there and after graduation.

Academic Freedom

With over 50 majors and 40 minors, and a unique interdisciplinary approach, thousands of different academic paths exist at Hopkins. The school’s academic philosophy combines research with a liberal arts focus that offers students the freedom to create their own tracks—which is why over 60% of their undergraduates have a double major or major and minor; like electrical engineering and romance languages, mathematics and philosophy, or biomedical engineering and business. This creates an undergraduate experience that teaches students how to think, create, and succeed—whatever their academic interests.

Practical, hands-on learning adds depth to any course of study, making Hopkins students uniquely equipped for life after graduation. They’re working with companies to solve real problems, testing their hypotheses out in the field, and collaborating with peers and professors to put what they learn in the classroom to the test.

Research Redefined

As America’s first research university, Johns Hopkins has been tackling difficult questions and finding answers since 1876. Every day, faculty and students work side-by-side in a tireless pursuit of discovery, continuing the university’s founding mission to bring knowledge to the world. The university leads the nation in research spending and offers students the chance to make innovative discoveries as early as their first year, in all academic areas. About 80 percent of students across disciplines participate in research, which takes place in labs, museums, and unconventional places throughout campus, Baltimore, and the world.

Student Life

Hopkins’ undergraduate Homewood campus is a place where students share ideas, get excited about what they’re doing in and outside of the classroom, and find new ways to express themselves. Hopkins students pursue their interests outside the classroom with the same energy they bring to their academic goals. Every year, undergrads create new traditions and celebrations, like Hoptoberfest, a festival of all things fall, or run a campus lecture series that brings in speakers like Nelson Mandela, Hasan Minhaj, and Gloria Steinem. Being a part of a student group is a great way to develop connections, get to know new people, and discover new interests. Many of our students find the groups they’re a part of define their time at Hopkins. There are over 400 student-run clubs and several student unions to hold meetings and shows. Students are encouraged to take initiative through leadership opportunities and create new organizations. From fraternities and sororities to the performing arts, student groups and organizations add dimension and depth to the experiences our students are having.

Campus and Surroundings

Hopkins offers students a traditional campus within a bustling east-coast city. The Homewood campus has green quads, brick pathways, and “The Beach,” a grassy expanse used for sunbathing, studying, and socializing. A short walk or a free shuttle ride leads to museums, concert halls, shops, historic movie theaters, restaurants, and professional sports stadiums. Hopkins students are not only engaged members of the campus community, but also engaged citizens of Baltimore.

Baltimore is a vibrant city with small-town charm—an entrepreneurial hub with a rapidly growing technology sector and dynamic arts scene. Students enjoy the fast-paced yet accessible nature of a city like Baltimore, which gives them access to coveted internships and careers. It’s the perfect environment for real-world experiences like building professional networks or getting startups off the ground. It’s an incubator for scientists, clinicians, artists, legal experts, venture capitalists, philanthropists—and students who want to change the world.