Stanford vs Vanderbilt
Stanford University and Vanderbilt University, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Stanford, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is renowned for its strong ties to the tech industry and its highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of only 4%. Vanderbilt, situated in the vibrant city of Nashville, boasts a more diverse student body and a wider range of academic programs, with an acceptance rate of 12%. While both universities excel in various fields, Stanford is particularly known for its engineering, computer science, and business programs, while Vanderbilt is recognized for its strength in medicine, nursing, and music. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, popular majors, student demographics, and more, to determine which institution best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Stanford University |
![]() Vanderbilt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Stanford, California | Nashville, Tennessee |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 3.9% | 7.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
|
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
|
SAT range | 1470 - 1570 | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 15.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 32.0% |
Total number of applicants | 55,471 | 47,152 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,190 | 3,368 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,757 | 1,626 |
Yield rate | 80.2% | 48.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,898 | $79,538 |
Average net price | $14,402 | $27,553 |
Tuition | $55,473 | $54,840 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
|
Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
|
Available payment plans |
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|
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 58.5% | 89.5% |
International students | 24.4% | 11.7% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 14,621 | 5,598 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Washington New York Illinois | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 5:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.5% | 93.4% |
Dropout rate | 1.7% | 6.4% |
Transferred out | 0.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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