Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins died in 1873 leaving a $7 million bequest to establish a university and hospital in Baltimore. This donation was the largest philanthropic gift in United States history up to that time. The funds came primarily from his investments in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. A childless bachelor, Johns Hopkins left no direct heirs to claim the estate. His great-grandmother Margaret Johns had married Gerard Hopkins and named their son Johns Hopkins. That son named his own son Samuel Hopkins who became the benefactor of this institution. The original board chose an entirely novel model dedicated to discovering knowledge at an advanced level. They looked to contemporary Germany for inspiration especially Heidelberg University with its long academic research history. The new institution tried to replicate the Humboldtian model of higher education which emphasized research over teaching. This decision shifted higher education in the United States from focusing on revealed knowledge to scientific discovery of new knowledge.
Daniel Coit Gilman became the first president of Johns Hopkins University on the 22nd of February 1876. He had previously served as president of the University of California Berkeley before taking this appointment. Gilman launched what many considered an audacious experiment to merge teaching and research. He stated that best teachers are usually those free competent and willing to make original researches in library and laboratory. To implement his plan he recruited internationally known researchers including mathematician James Joseph Sylvester. Biologist H. Newell Martin joined the faculty along with physicist Henry Augustus Rowland who later became president of American Physical Society. Classical scholars Basil Gildersleeve and Charles D. Morris also came aboard during this period. Economist Richard T. Ely and chemist Ira Remsen were among the early recruits. Remsen would eventually become the second president of the university in 1901. The trustees worked alongside four notable university presidents including Charles William Eliot of Harvard University. Andrew D. White of Cornell University Noah Porter of Yale College and James B. Angell of University of Michigan all supported Gilman's vision. The new university fused advanced scholarship with professional schools like medicine and engineering. It became a national trendsetter in doctoral programs hosting numerous scholarly journals and associations.
The university's first home was located in Downtown Baltimore for its initial two decades. Johns Hopkins had requested both institutions be built upon grounds of his estate called Clifton. However stocks in The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad became virtually worthless soon after his death. This financial crisis delayed plans to site the university at Clifton because none of his endowment could be used for construction. Only interest on principal could fund building projects according to his will. In early 20th century trustees began searching for new home as buildings outgrew their capacity. A team of prominent locals acquired Homewood Estate in north Baltimore. On the 22nd of February 1902 this land was formally transferred to the university. The flagship building Gilman Hall was completed in 1915. School of Engineering relocated there in fall of 1914 while Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences followed in 1916. Prior to becoming main campus Homewood estate had been gift of Charles Carroll of Carrollton who signed Declaration of Independence. Original structure 1801 Homewood House still stands serving as on-campus museum. Brick and marble Federal style of Homewood House became architectural inspiration for much of university campus versus Collegiate Gothic style of other historic American universities.
In fiscal year 2020 Johns Hopkins spent nearly $3.1 billion on research more than any other U.S. university. It has held highest federal research funding of any American university every year since 1979. Between 1999 and 2009 Johns Hopkins ranked third globally after Harvard University and Max Planck Society in total citations published. In 2000 it received $95.4 million in research grants from National Aeronautics and Space Administration making it leading recipient of NASA funding. In FY 2002 Hopkins became first university to cross $1 billion threshold recording $1.14 billion in total research. As of March 2025 thirty-four Nobel Prize winners have been affiliated with university as alumni faculty members or researchers. Recent winners include Gregg Semenza and William G. Kaelin. Eighteen affiliates won Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine including George Minot and George Whipple who shared 1934 prize. Four affiliates won Nobel Prizes in Physics including James Franck in 1925 and Maria Goeppert-Mayer in 1963. Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Peter Agre received 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovery of aquaporins. Carol Greider was awarded 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine along with Elizabeth Blackburn and Jack W. Szostak.
University consists of ten academic divisions mostly divided among four campuses in Baltimore with some graduate campuses in Italy China and Washington D.C. School of Advanced International Studies located in Washington D.C. near National Gallery of Art on Pennsylvania Avenue. In 2024 survey 65 percent ranked SAIS as top five master's degree program in international relations placing it second-best nation. The Hopkins Bloomberg Center opened officially in 2023 housing several divisions including Carey School Business Krieger School Arts Sciences Peabody Institute. Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel Maryland specializes research for U.S. Department Defense NASA other government civilian agencies. It designed built flown spacecraft for NASA to asteroid Eros planets Mercury Pluto. Developed more than 100 biomedical devices many collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. SAIS Europe European campus located Bologna Italy serves as branch of School Advanced International Studies. Columbia Maryland hosts branches Carey Business School School Education while Montgomery County campus offers part-time programs biosciences engineering business education. As of 2025 cost attendance per academic year without financial aid approximately $89,000. However 51% full-time undergraduates receive financial aid covering 100% need.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Johns Hopkins die and how much money did he leave for the university?
Johns Hopkins died in 1873 leaving a $7 million bequest to establish a university and hospital in Baltimore. This donation was the largest philanthropic gift in United States history up to that time.
Who became the first president of Johns Hopkins University and when did he start his term?
Daniel Coit Gilman became the first president of Johns Hopkins University on the 22nd of February 1876. He had previously served as president of the University of California Berkeley before taking this appointment.
Where is the main campus of Johns Hopkins University located now and when was it transferred to the school?
The flagship Homewood Estate in north Baltimore was formally transferred to the university on the 22nd of February 1902. The original structure known as Homewood House dates from 1801 and still stands serving as an on-campus museum.
How many Nobel Prize winners have been affiliated with Johns Hopkins University as of March 2025?
As of March 2025 thirty-four Nobel Prize winners have been affiliated with university as alumni faculty members or researchers. Recent winners include Gregg Semenza and William G. Kaelin among others who contributed to Physiology or Medicine awards.
When did Johns Hopkins University begin admitting women at the undergraduate level and what percentage were female by 2020?
Decision to admit women at undergraduate level adopted in October 1969. As of 2020 undergraduate population was 53% female.