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Stanford , CA
Stanford University is a renowned private research university located in Stanford, California, USA. Founded in 1885, it is widely recognized for its academic excellence and innovation across various fields. With a sprawling campus spanning 8,180 acres, Stanford provides a vibrant and collaborative environment for around 17,000 students from diverse backgrounds.
At Stanford University, its academic programs are highly regarded and cover a wide range of disciplines. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in humanities, sciences, engineering, business, and medicine. With an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, students have the flexibility to pursue their interests across different departments and programs. The faculty at Stanford consists of highly accomplished scholars and Nobel laureates who are dedicated to mentoring and inspiring students. Moreover, the university is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and research centers, allowing students to engage in cutting-edge research and contribute to meaningful advancements in their respective fields.
Beyond academics, Stanford offers a rich and vibrant campus life. The university is home to a diverse community of students from all around the world, fostering an inclusive and multicultural atmosphere. Students have access to over 600 campus organizations and numerous extracurricular activities, ranging from sports and athletics to arts and performing arts. The renowned Stanford Cardinal athletic teams participate in the NCAA Division I, offering students opportunities to engage in competitive sports or support their teams. Additionally, the university's location in the heart of Silicon Valley provides unique networking and internship opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship and technology.
Overall, Stanford University stands as a leading institution globally known for its academic rigor, world-class faculty, and innovative research. With a commitment to intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and creativity, Stanford aims to shape future leaders and innovators who contribute positively to society. Whether it is pursuing cutting-edge research, engaging in meaningful extracurricular activities, or benefiting from the vibrant campus life, students at Stanford University can expect an enriching and transformative educational experience.
Located in Stanford, CA and set in a suburban environment, Stanford University is a private university. This educational institution operates on a quarterly calendar. The selection process is very rigorous, with an acceptance rate of merely 3%. The freshman retention rate at Stanford University is 98.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 92%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 5. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into Stanford University.
Quick Facts
7,904
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$67,731
Tuition
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
92%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Check out some essential information about admission at Stanford University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,067 in 2025. Stanford University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Stanford University provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 50.3% and ACT scores 19%. 97.3% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 2.5% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 0.2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 99.1, 0.6 between 24-29 and 0.3 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.94. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Stanford University.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to this school is January 5. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Stanford University was 98.2% in 2025, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 92%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 18,625 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 57.1% for that year. There was a total of 7,904 undergraduate students, including 965 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 56.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 8,759 male and 8,473 female full-time students in 2025. 5,056 full-time graduate men and 4,175 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 2,170 Asian students and 560 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,289 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 724 as multirace. The school also had 14 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 60 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 35 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some important information on Stanford University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Stanford University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $67,731 for full-time domestic students. Stanford University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $813.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to allocate about $840 for books and supplies during their time at Stanford University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Stanford University amounted to $22,167 a year. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $14,223 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 67,731 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,167 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 840 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,738 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support available to students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Stanford University.
According to the most recent data, 843 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $72,172 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
3,885 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Stanford University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 3,928. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $10,559,186, and state $3,254,150. The students of Stanford University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $242,724,957, and external in the amount of $8,446,264.
$7,017
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
80 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. 5 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $1,546,833. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $8,098,227 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Stanford University was 6:1. That means that there were 6 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 2,213. Out of that number, there were 1,326 male and 887 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Stanford University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about social life at Stanford University.
Its campus spans 8,180 acres.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
There are 625 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 19 and female students 25. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Stanford Daily, followed by Asian-American Student Association and Business Association of Stanford Entrepreneurial Students. Other popular student organizations at this school are Axe Committee (athletic support) and Ram's Head (theatre club).
Those interested in music can join the Stanford University band or chorus. In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. Interested in media and communication? Stanford University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Stanford University offers a number of services important for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Stanford University.
All in all, campus life at Stanford University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Stanford University.
Career Counselling
At Stanford University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
Students who find employment within six months of graduating can expect an average base annual starting salary of 78,000 USD.
$78,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Stanford University is located in Stanford, CA.
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Stanford University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Stanford University is 67,731 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Stanford University is 3%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Stanford University is 98.2%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.