Acceptance Rate
4%
Avg. SAT
1580
75th percentile
“Silicon Valley's neighboring research university where undergraduates launch companies alongside future Nobel winners.”
Stanford, CA
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
Leland Stanford, a railroad tycoon and former California governor, founded the university in 1885 on his sprawling Palo Alto horse farm as a memorial to his teenage son, who died of typhoid fever; Jane Stanford shaped its early coeducational and nondenominational character after her husband's death. You'll thrive here if you're self-motivated, intellectually curious, and comfortable with ambiguity—think collaborative problem-solvers who juggle startups, research, and intramurals without hand-holding. The campus personality fuses West Coast openness with relentless ambition, set in sunny suburban Palo Alto, where biking past lemon trees leads to venture capital meetings. Tradeoffs include fierce competition for spots in popular majors like computer science and a high cost of living that pushes many toward off-campus apartments by junior year.
Photo Gallery
+56
+48
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In classrooms, expect small seminars where professors—who include Turing Award winners—challenge you to debate real-world problems, though introductory lectures in subjects like CS106A pack hundreds into auditoriums with TAs handling sections. Stanford's open curriculum lets you mix engineering with philosophy or biology with drama, fueling strengths in computer science, bioengineering, and human biology; undergrads snag research gigs at labs pioneering AI or gene editing. The quarter system keeps pace brisk, fostering interdisciplinary pursuits like the d.school's design thinking courses, but it demands sharp time management amid grade deflation in STEM.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
7,904 undergrad • 10,721 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
25%
Black / African American
6%
Hispanic / Latino
13%
Asian
22%
Other / Multi-racial
35%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Stanford, CA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week mixes 8 a.m. lectures, hackathon all-nighters, and sunset runs on the Dish trail, with weekends alive for Big Game parties against Cal or Gaities musicals roasting faculty. Residential life centers on four themed undergraduate quads—think Arillaga's tech focus or Crothers' artsy vibe—where house cultures build tight-knit communities through theme dinners and pranks. The social scene balances nerdy entrepreneurship events with diverse Greek life and club sports, but high-achiever pressure can isolate introverts, and Palo Alto's pricey vibe means budgeting for ramen runs to off-campus eateries.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Atlantic Coast Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$5,374
$30K – $48K
$3,153
$48K – $75K
$6,079
$75K – $110K
$16,911
$110K+
$49,457
Apply for Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA to unlock grants, scholarships, and federal loans.
Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
98%
4 Years Graduation Rate
78%
6 Years Graduation Rate
96%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$124,080
98% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Stanford University and return in the fall. 78% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 96% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
78%
4-5 years
18%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
3%
Let’s find your perfect tutor
Answer a few quick questions. We’ll recommend the right plan and match you with a top 5% tutor.
Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$57,693
Acceptance
4%
Undergrads
7,904
4-Year Grad Rate
78%
Endowment
$24.0B
Stanford, CA 94305
Explore More