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Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private · Large suburb · Carnegie R1/R2

Private institution in Stanford, CA · 7,841 undergraduates · 4% acceptance rate · $124,080 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$12,136456th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$62,4841,945th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$62,4841,945th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Cost of attendance
$82,1621,925th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
Median graduate debt
$12,000167th lowest of 1,865 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$124,08010th highest of 1,954 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$102,88711th highest of 1,950 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
92.8%55th highest of 2,014 reporting
Full-time retention
97.8%67th highest of 1,837 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
3.9%5th most selective of 1,596 reporting
Average SAT
15532nd highest of 1,022 reporting
Median ACT
351st highest of 952 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates
7,841321st largest of 2,144 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
6.0:194th smallest of 2,141 reporting
Pell Grant share
19.2%1,739th highest of 2,122 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 18 mi (SFO)

On 19 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
Yes
Application fee
$100
Personal essay
Required
Writing supplement
No

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • We ask applicants to answer several short questions (limit 50 words each) and to write a short essay on each of the three topics below.
  • Short Essay Questions There is a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum for each essay.
  • The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
  • Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.
  • Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

Source: IvyWise 2025-26 Common App supplements

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Admitted class profile (Fall 2025 entering class (Class of 2029))

States represented
50
International
12.7%
First-generation
20%

Sources: news.stanford.edu, facts.stanford.edu

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 52 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer Sciencebachelors$147,858$136,499
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$97,907$84,653
Engineering-Related FieldsEngineering Technologybachelors$86,867$92,632
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$77,966$78,343
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$67,660$85,391
International Relations and National Security StudiesSocial Sciencesbachelors$63,005$58,221
Engineering, OtherEngineeringbachelors$56,415$57,995
Science, Technology and SocietyMultidisciplinary Studiesbachelors$55,964$80,779
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciencesbachelors$51,160$25,194
Psychology, GeneralPsychologybachelors$48,823$40,368
Human BiologyMultidisciplinary Studiesbachelors$45,696$34,526
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesArea & Ethnic Studiesbachelors$44,170$31,133

Campus facts

Athletics — 24 sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $39,701,051 (M $19,645,560 · W $20,055,491 · Coed $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.

Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Stanford University’s 7,841 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.

In CA

Elsewhere