Is Johns Hopkins Test Optional?
Is Johns Hopkins test optional? Because COVID-19 will continue to have an effect on testing availability and access, Johns Hopkins University will no longer require applicants to take standardized tests beginning with the application year of 2025–2026. This indicates that if you are applying to Hopkins to be a part of the class you will be entering in the fall of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026, you will not be required to submit test scores for your application to be considered for admission.
Students who choose not to submit their test scores will not be penalized in any way by JHU’s admissions process. Whether Johns Hopkins will be test optional or not, the admissions process at Hopkins has always been focused on how well applicants can manage both their academic and personal responsibilities. The holistic approach that they take places a primary emphasis on academic character, as well as impact initiative, and compatibility with the community.
As Johns Hopkins is test optional, if you have a test score, be it from the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, English language proficiency exams, or any other test, and you believe it is reflective of your academic ability, Johns Hopkins University welcomes any testing submission you choose to share.
Johns Hopkins University will consider any SAT or ACT scores, whether they are self-reported or officially reported, that are included with an application for admission. You have the option of self-reporting your test scores when using either the Common Application or the Coalition for College Application. You are asked to report the score that you achieved in each section that was the highest possible, and Johns Hopkins University will then calculate your overall score when evaluating your application.
Moreover, as Johns Hopkins is test optional, in the process of evaluating your application, Johns Hopkins will give weight to the sections on which you performed the best across all of the SATs you have taken, regardless of when you took those sections. As a result, you are strongly encouraged to revise your application to include new test scores after each new administration of the SAT.
Additionally, as Johns Hopkins recently became test optional, your highest possible composite score on the ACT will be taken into consideration by JHU. They will first determine the highest possible value for each official section score that was turned in, and then they will recalculate the overall score.
What is the Current Johns Hopkins Acceptance Rate?
The results of Johns Hopkins University‘s admissions process for the Class of 2026 were made public after a rigorous evaluation and consideration process. In addition to the 822 students offered admission during the early decision rounds, 1,586 students were admitted during the regular decision round this year.
The level of competition was extremely high, and as a result, only 6.5 percent of the 37,150 applicants who had applied for the early and regular decision rounds received the coveted admissions letter.
The new students came from 63 different countries and 48 of the 50 states in the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States of America. Additionally, the students were representatives of 7,774 high schools located across the globe.
Johns Hopkins University for the Class of 2026 Acceptance Rate
| Number of Applications | Accepted Students | Acceptance Rate | |
| Regular Applications | 31,650 | 1,586 | 5% |
| Early Applications (ED I & ED II) | 5,500 (approx) | 822 | 15% |
Johns Hopkins University’s Class of 2026 Regular Admissions
Only 2,408 students will make up the Johns Hopkins University class of 2026; of those, 1,586 were admitted through the university’s regular admissions process. Likely, the COVID-19 pandemic, optional standardized testing, and an uptick in the number of students applying to college have contributed to the downward trend in admission rates reported by the majority of the nation’s top universities over the past three years.
Johns Hopkins is not an exception to this rule because it is one of the most competitive non-Ivy League schools in the country. The percentage of people who are allowed to enter has also dropped.
Johns Hopkins University’s Class of 2026 Early Admissions
In December of 2021, Johns Hopkins University released the results of their Early Admission Round I for the Class of 2026. This prestigious university recently shared that 520 applicants had successfully gained admission, representing a 21 percent acceptance rate for early decision applicants. It just so happens that this is the same number of people granted admission during the first round of Early Decision for the Class of 2025.
What are the Admission Requirements for Johns Hopkins?
One of the nation’s oldest educational institutions is Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876. It is well-known for the high caliber of the academic programs it provides.
As Johns Hopkins adopted a test optional policy, students who are interested in attending Johns Hopkins University and want to be considered for admission must be familiar with the university’s requirements, which are essential considerations in the admissions process.
GPA Requirements at Johns Hopkins University
To fulfill one of the requirements for admission to Johns Hopkins University, prospective students must have a high-grade point average. According to data from the year before, the average grade point average (GPA) of students who were accepted into the class of freshmen was 3.74 on a scale of 4.0. According to this score, the university will only accept students who were in the “A-group” during high school.
Regarding the admission requirement of having the highest average GPA, Johns Hopkins University is ranked #5 in Maryland. The following table provides an overview of the Johns Hopkins University GPA requirements and the level of competition they represent:
| GPA | JHU acceptance rate | Competitiveness |
| Above 3.75 | 59% | Good |
| 3.50 – 3.75 | 26% | Below average |
| 3.25 – 3.50 | 11% | Reach |
| 3.00 – 3.25 | 3% | Reach |
| 2.75 – 3.00 | 1% | Low |
SAT Requirements at Johns Hopkins University
When deciding whether or not to accept an applicant, JHU places a significant amount of weight on their SAT score. In the previous year, approximately 48 percent of applicants submitted their SAT scores with their application for admission. As a consequence of this, the institution has requirements for SAT scores that are regarded as being extremely difficult.
The previous year’s admissions data indicate that successful applicants have an average SAT score of 1470 out of a possible 1600 points. Anyone with a score that is lower than the average will have a difficult time getting accepted.
The admissions process at Johns Hopkins University has been ranked as having the highest SAT requirement of any school in Maryland. However, the admissions officers have granted enrollment to students who had a score of 1420 in specific instances.
The following table presents an illustration of a candidate’s admissions prospects following their SAT score:
| SAT score | JHU Acceptance rate | Competitiveness |
| Above 1560 | Above 17% | Good |
| 1515 – 1560 | 11 – 17% | Above average |
| 1470 – 1515 | 7 – 11% | Below average |
| 1425 – 1470 | 4 – 7% | Reach |
| Below 1425 | Below 4% | Low |
ACT Requirements for Johns Hopkins University
The applicant’s ACT score is another important factor that has a significant impact on the acceptance rate at Johns Hopkins. Candidates must have an ACT score of at least 34 to be admitted to the university. A little less than fifty-one percent of the applicants include their ACT score in their application for admission.
In addition to this, the applicants who were selected for the program scored in the top one percent of all the people who took the ACT nationwide. Applicants who have a score that is greater than 35 will be given top priority when it comes to admission decisions. Nevertheless, the institution has occasionally admitted students with scores as low as 33 in particular circumstances.
The table that follows offers a comprehensive illustration of SAT scores and how competitive they are for admission to Johns Hopkins University:
| ACT score | JHU Acceptance rate | Competitiveness |
| Above 36 | Above 17% | Good |
| 35 – 36 | 11 – 17% | Above average |
| 34 – 35 | 7 – 11% | Below average |
| 33 – 34 | 4 – 7% | Reach |
| Below 33 | Below 4% | Low |
What are the Application Requirements for Johns Hopkins University?
When deciding whether or not to admit prospective students, JHU places the utmost importance on the following considerations:
Filled out the Application and the Supplement
Johns Hopkins University accepts the Coalition for College Admission and the Common Application; however, a supplement or additional questions may be required.
Application fee or waiver of application fee
Application fee of $70, which is non-refundable, or fee waiver. Waivers of the application fee can be requested through either the Coalition for College Application or the Common Application. You will be questioned within the application platform to determine whether or not you are eligible for a fee waiver.
JHU will consider waiving the application fee if your high school guidance counselor sends us an email requesting it and stating that you do not meet the eligibility requirements but that paying the fee would be difficult for you financially.
Early Decision Agreement that has been signed.
A document from the Coalition for Common Application or College Application.
Report from the Secondary School
The recommendation of your school counselor, transcript, and high school profile.
A Total of Two Student-Teacher Evaluations
Evaluations from two different instructors who can offer perspective on you and your work.
The SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Test is an option.
Because COVID-19 will continue to affect the availability and accessibility of testing, Johns Hopkins University will not require applicants to take a test until the 2025-2026 application year. Students who choose not to submit their test scores will not suffer any consequences due to their decision.
If you have a test score, whether Johns Hopkins will still be test optional or not, be it from the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, or any other English language proficiency exam, and you believe it is reflective of your academic ability, Johns Hopkins University will consider it as part of our holistic review strategy.
Report on the Half-Year Mark
Mid-February is the deadline for applicants to turn in an updated transcript as well as a Mid-year Report, regardless of whether they are applying for an early decision or regular decision (or as soon as they are available if after the deadline). A current copy of the senior year transcript must be attached to the Mid-year Report, which must be handed in directly by the school.
The Mid-year Report and transcript should be mailed in, or the documents should be submitted electronically through the Coalition for College Application or the Common Application by school counselors. Hopkins requests transcript updates for senior-year students attending schools that use the trimester system after the first and second trimesters.
The deadline for submitting Mid-year Reports in the middle of February does not apply to schools that follow the trimester calendar. When the most recent transcripts are turned in, the school counselor needs to make sure to mention the trimester system that the school uses.
Financial aid (optional)
Only applicants from other countries need to apply
- Results from the TOEFL, the IELTS, the Duolingo English Test (DET), or the Cambridge English Exam (recommended). Applicants whose first language is not English or students not enrolled in an English language program within the previous three years are eligible for this scholarship.
- Form for International Accreditation of Financial Statements. Only required for applicants for financial aid who are not citizens of the United States or Permanent Residents of the United States. On the application portal, international citizens who are interested in receiving financial assistance will be able to find the form for their Certification of Finances. If accepted to the university, international students not applying for financial aid must submit the Certification of Finances Form to demonstrate that they have the financial means to pay for their education. Without submitting the additional materials, these students cannot enroll in the university and complete their enrollment process. If a student believes they will require any form of financial assistance at Hopkins, they must submit an application for aid during their first year of enrollment.
The admissions process at Johns Hopkins University places a significant emphasis on each of the aforementioned considerations. However, to get the admissions committee’s attention, applicants to Johns Hopkins need to focus primarily on the requirements listed below.
The university is looking for students who are enthusiastic about the goals they have set for themselves academically. For this reason, it considers factors other than the scores. The most crucial factor in demonstrating your dedication to your academic work is to provide convincing letters of recommendation.
The university reads the applicant’s extracurricular description to determine whether or not they have the potential to bring about positive social change and whether or not they have leadership qualities.
The applicant’s personality and the talents they possess, whether they can bring about positive change and add value to the student community and the college campus, are two of the most critical factors that Johns Hopkins considers when making admissions decisions.
When is the Application Deadline for Johns Hopkins?
Since the entry into the undergraduate programs occurs during the Fall Intake, the application process begins in the month of August. The admissions process for the Fall Intake typically begins for transfer applicants around the months of February and March.
| Decision | Deadline |
| Early Decision I | November 1 |
| Early Decision II | January 3 |
| Regular Decision | January 3 |
| Transfer (Fall) | March 1 |
If you need help putting the finishing touches on your early applications or want some advice on whether or not applying Early Decision or an Early Action is a good option for you, at AdmissionSight, we have over 10 years of experience guiding students through the competitive admissions process, including our athletic recruitment program.
AdmissionSight can help you put your best foot forward when applying to college this fall. Contact us today for more information on our services.
