Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit · Large suburb · Website

Admission rate: 3.6%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $12,307; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 92%
Median earnings: $125,340; 10 years after enrolling

Stanford University is a private nonprofit college in Stanford, CA with 7,554 undergraduates. It admits 3.6% of applicants, and admitted students average 1553 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $12,307 per year ($1,067 for families earning under $30,000). 92% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $125,340 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 3.6%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 53,733; Fall 2023
Admitted: 2,099; Fall 2023
Yield: 81%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing740–780

200800

SAT Math770–800

200800

ACT Composite34–35

136

What Stanford University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testConsidered

Cost

Cost of attendance: $92,892; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $68,544

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$1,067
$30–48k—
$48–75k—
$75–110k$6,603
$110k+$47,575

Get a personal estimate with Stanford University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 92%
Freshman retention: 98%
Median earnings: $125,340; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $10,750; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 7,554
Student–faculty ratio: 6:1
Receive Pell grants: 22%

White23%
Hispanic17%
Black7%
Asian29%

Stanford University FAQ

What is Stanford University's acceptance rate?+

Stanford University admits 3.6% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Stanford University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 740–780 on SAT Reading and Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1553.

What ACT score do you need for Stanford University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 34–35.

Is Stanford University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Stanford University?+

In Fall 2023, 53,733 students applied to Stanford University and 2,099 were admitted; 1,699 enrolled.

Does Stanford University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Stanford University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Stanford University require an essay?+

Stanford University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Stanford University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $92,892 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,307.

What is Stanford University's graduation rate?+

92% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 243744 · How we use this data