Johns Hopkins University

Overview

Johns Hopkins describes itself as America's first research university, built on the model of research-focused European universities. Undergraduates are based on the Homewood campus in north Baltimore and enrol in either the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences or the Whiting School of Engineering. Many students arrive interested in medicine or public health, but the university admits students across the humanities, social sciences and engineering, and applicants do not need to declare a final major.

How to apply for 2026-27

Hopkins accepts the Common Application or the Coalition Application on Scoir. The application fee is $70, and fee waivers are available.

Both Early Decision rounds need a signed Early Decision Agreement committing you to enrol if admitted.

Testing policy

Johns Hopkins requires standardized testing. The university announced in August 2024 that it would end its pandemic-era test-optional policy and resume requiring SAT or ACT scores starting with the fall 2026 entering class. Scores are read alongside the rest of the application. You may self-report at application; if you are admitted and enrol, you send official score reports.

Financial aid for international students

Hopkins says international students must apply for aid as first-year applicants. International applicants submit a Certification of Finances form, and those requesting aid also submit the CSS Profile by the aid deadline for their round. Read the Hopkins financial aid pages for how international aid requests are considered in admission; we could not confirm that wording for this update.

Writing for Hopkins

For the Hopkins supplemental essay, specific stories from your own life work better than lists of achievements. If you plan to study a health-related field, show curiosity about research and evidence, not only about becoming a doctor; Hopkins undergraduates often join research labs early. For Canadian students, consider whether Early Decision II fits: it shares the January 2 deadline with Regular Decision but gives a binding answer in February.

1. October: finish the Common App or Coalition application and the Hopkins essay.
2. November 1: ED I deadline; November 15 for the CSS Profile and aid forms.
3. January 2: ED II and Regular Decision deadline; January 15 for aid.

Preparing with StudyBrix

Pre-health students at any university face heavy first-year science. Our general chemistry 1 and cell and molecular biology decks match that content. See the StudyBrix United States guide for how US pre-med paths differ from Canadian ones.