Stanford, CA
Stanford University was founded by Leland and Jane Stanford, chartered in 1885 and opened to students in 1891. It operates today as a research university organized into seven schools -- Business, the Doerr School of Sustainability, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Medicine -- across a campus of more than 8,000 acres. Per its own count, 20 Nobel laureates are currently members of the Stanford community.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Stanford University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 56% submitted SAT scores, 21% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Restrictive Early Action: Nov 1, 2026Non-binding, but you can't apply early to any other private college, or to a public university's binding Early Decision.
- Regular Decision: Jan 5, 2027
Confirm on Stanford University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Stanford University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Stanford University weighs your application
From Stanford University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
What applicants who posted their results listed
146 self-reported applicant profiles from public posts, 2024–25 and 2025–26 admissions cycles: 35 admitted, 111 rejected or waitlisted. Figures read admitted vs. rejected or waitlisted.
Most common activities
Most common awards among admits
Who posted
The full breakdown, with what stood out: Stanford Accepted vs. Rejected Applicants →
These are people who chose to post their results publicly, mostly on Reddit -- a group that skews toward high scores and STEM. They describe posters, not Stanford University's admitted class, and recruited athletes are left out. For official numbers, use the admissions figures above.
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Stanford University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Stanford University look for in applicants?
Per Stanford University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores, application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Stanford University's acceptance rate?
Stanford University in Stanford, CA admits approximately 4% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Stanford University?
Per Stanford University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1520–1570 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Stanford University?
Per Stanford University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 34–36 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Stanford University cost?
Stanford University's total cost of attendance is reported at $87,833 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Stanford University?
Stanford University's deadlines are Restrictive Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Jan 5, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Stanford University require students to live on campus?
Yes -- Stanford University requires students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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