Stanford University campus
Stanford University logo

Stanford University

Type 4 year, Private
Business Model Non Profit
Campus locale Suburb: Large
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Quarter
Student body size Medium
Dormitory capacity 14,621
Student to faculty ratio 5 to 1
Acceptance rate 4%
Students retention rate 98%
On-time graduation rate 96%

Located in Stanford, California, Stanford is a private, non profit institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. Stanford operates on a quarter-based calendar system, dividing the academic year into four terms.

The acceptance rate at Stanford is 4%, indicating that the institution is quite selective in its admissions process. This can be seen as a positive aspect for those seeking a competitive and academically rigorous environment.

Stanford University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 5-to-1, Stanford emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

Stanford boasts an impressive student retention rate of 98% , indicating that the majority of students choose to continue their education at the institution. This number surpasses both the state and national averages of 85% and 74%, respectively.


  • The institution has on-campus hospital
  • Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
  • The institution provides on-campus housing
  • Freshman students are required to live on campus

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

3.9%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$56,169

Cost of attendance at Stanford University in 2022 for students from California.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $6,749
National average $30,235

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$56,169

Cost of attendance at Stanford University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $20,840
National average $30,238

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 61 of freshman students at Stanford University received on average $56,211 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$56,211
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 324 20% $5,239 $1,697,597
Other Federal Grant 333 21% $6,560 $2,184,585
State Grant/Scholarships 65 4% $8,815 $572,958
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 967 60% $54,057 $52,273,114
Total Grant & Scholarships 979 61% $56,211 $55,030,657

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Stanford University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Stanford University students is 95.5%. Female students graduated at a rate of 97.2%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 93.9%.

95.5%

  • asian 97.1% 374 students
  • African American 88.8% 95 students
  • white 96.0% 599 students
  • unknown 100.0% 6 students
  • hawaiian 83.3% 5 students
  • hispanic 96.1% 221 students
  • International Students 94.3% 167 students
  • Mixed Race 94.9% 168 students

Sport Conferences

  • Football Pacific-12 Conference
  • Baseball Pacific-12 Conference
  • Basketball Pacific-12 Conference
  • Track and Cross Country Pacific-12 Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Stanford University provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Stanford University offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army
  • ROTC - Navy
  • ROTC - Air Force

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.