Johns Hopkins University

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. A spirit of intellectual curiosity among students and the university's renowned faculty drives a culture of creation and discovery.

Academic freedom

With over 50 majors, almost 50 minors, and a unique interdisciplinary approach, thousands of different academic paths exist at Hopkins. Their 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 students 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 you how to think, create, and succeed, whatever the student’s 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 real companies to solve actual problems, testing their hypotheses out in the field, and working alongside 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. Almost 75 percent of students across all disciplines participate in research, which takes place in labs, museums, and unconventional places throughout campus and the city of Baltimore.

Student life

Johns 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 fervor they bring to their academic goals. Every year, undergrads run Spring Fair, the nation's largest student-run college festival, as well as two campus lecture series that bring in speakers like Bernie Sanders, Will Ferrell, and Piper Kerman. They root for the university's nationally ranked lacrosse teams. They're committed to service, with more than 60 student groups focused on community outreach, a summer internship program within Baltimore's nonprofit organizations, and an annual university-wide President's Day of Service.

Campus and surroundings

Homewood has it all—green quads, brick pathways, and “The Beach”, a grassy expanse used for sunbathing, studying, and socializing. And just outside the campus gate waits the bustling, energetic city of Baltimore, Maryland. A short walk or a free shuttle ride leads to museums, concert halls, shops, historic movie-theaters, restaurants, and professional sports stadiums. With a traditional campus and big city amenities, it’s where Johns Hopkins students live, research, learn, and play.  

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.