Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University opened in 1876, taking its name from Maryland philanthropist Johns Hopkins, a man with Quaker roots who believed in improving public health in Baltimore and beyond. Mr. Hopkins made his fortune by investing in emerging industries, including the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In his will, Mr. Hopkins set aside $7 million to establish a hospital and affiliated training colleges, an orphanage and a university. When the bequest was made, it was the largest in history.

Mr. Hopkins unusually spelled first name was the maiden name of his great-grandmother, Margaret Johns, who married Gerard Hopkins in 1700. The founder of the university was actually the second Johns Hopkins, named after his grandfather.

From the beginning, Johns Hopkins University entered into an unprecedented method of learning, incorporation both teaching and research. The university also focused immediately on the need for graduate education, fusing academics with medicine and engineering. Continuing with their trend-setting beliefs, Johns Hopkins became the first medical school to admit women and to require those admitted to the medical program to hold a bachelor's degree.

Mr. Hopkins requested in his will that both the hospital and university be built upon the grounds of his Baltimore estate known as Clifton. His will also stated that none of the endowment funds could be used for construction of buildings and that only the interest on the investments be used for such purpose. Unfortunately, after his death, the value of his railroad stock plummeted requiring the hospital to be built in downtown Baltimore rather than at Clifton.

In the early 20th century, Johns Hopkins had outgrown its downtown location and the trustees began searching for a new location. It was too costly to build the campus on the grounds of Clifton, so the trustees sold 30 acres of the land on the estate to be used as a public park by the city. In 1902, a team of prominent locals acquired the estate "Homewood," transferring it to the university in February of that year. The first building on the campus, Gilman Hall, named after the first president of the university, opened in 1915. During the early 1900s, much of the land owned by the university were ceded to the city for use by the public. Wyman Park, Wyman Park Dell and the land where the Baltimore Museum of Art stands today were all part of the Homewood estate.

Homewood was a gift by Maryland planter, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who had signed the Declaration of Independence, to his son, Charles Carroll Jr. Homewood House, built in 1801, still stands and serves as an on-campus museum. Buildings on campus were patterned after the Federal-style home.

In 1909, Johns Hopkins was the first to start adult continuing education programs. Mr. Hopkins was a prominent abolitionist, and his conviction was a decisive factor in enrolling the first African-American student, Kelly Miller, in 1886. However, over the years, Johns Hopkins established a "separate but equal" policy as many universities of the era did.

Today, Johns Hopkins University still strives to fulfil the vision of its namesake. The university is a destination for excellent, ambitious scholars and stands as a world leader for research.

Johns Hopkins University Accreditation Details

Johns Hopkins University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and has been since 1921. Accreditation indicates that an institute of higher learning promotes standards of excellence and strives for constant improvement. Specific programs may be accredited by agencies that specialize in accreditation for programs in specific industries.

Johns Hopkins University Application Requirements

Students applying for their first year at Johns Hopkins University must complete the Common Application or the Universal College Application and pay the applicable fee. Students must have a guidance counselor submit a recommendation, official high school transcript or high school profile. Students must also provide two teacher evaluations and official SAT or ACT test scores. Transfer students must also complete the Common Application and pay the applicable fee. In addition, they must provide high school and college transcripts as well as a report from a college official along with a professor or instructor recommendation.

Graduate school admission requirements vary depending on the program the student wishes to enter. Students are encouraged to discuss these requirements with an admission counselor before applying to the program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduate tuition at Johns Hopkins University is as follows:

• School of Arts and Sciences - $48,710
• Carey Business School - $44,750
• School of Engineering - $48,710
• Peabody Institute - $42,631

Full-time undergraduate tuition is as follows:

• School of Advanced International Studies - $42,992
• School of Arts and Sciences - $48,710
• Carey Business School - $56,100 or $1,240 per credit hour
• School of Education - $39,000/Doctorate – $43,923
• School of Engineering - $48,710
• School of Medicine - $48,750
• School of Nursing - Full-time MSN - $36,217/Full-time MSN/MPH - $48,960/Doctorate PhD - $41,154/Doctorate DNP - $28,591
• Peabody Institute - $42,631
• School of Public Health - $61,200/Doctorate - $48,960

Financial aid is available at Johns Hopkins and the school has awarded more than $70 million in need-based grants each year. At least 88 percent of families with incomes under $200,000 receive grants and the average need-based grant for first-year students is $37,000. About one in four Johns Hopkins students can graduate without student loans. Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study programs. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify.

Psychological and Brain Sciences Graduate Program

The Psychological and Brain Sciences graduate program at Johns Hopkins University is designed for students who are trained in psychological sciences and want to actively engage in research. The program emphasizes training and experience in research methods essential to new knowledge. Students develop an understanding of Biopsychology and Cognitive and Developmental Psychology. The program is offered through the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS), a university-wide, web-based student information system.

Johns Hopkins has been an innovator in adult education since the early 1900s, offering adult education long before other universities began doing so. The online formats offer adult students the ability to meet home, work and social obligations while achieving their higher education goals.