Stanford University
Stanford University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley and is among the most selective and entrepreneurial universities in the country, admitting roughly 3.8% of more than 60,000 applicants. Its enrolled first-years carry about a 3.94 GPA with middle-50% SAT scores of 1520–1570, and Stanford reinstated its standardized testing requirement beginning with Fall 2026 applicants. Computer science, interdisciplinary programs, and engineering dominate the most popular majors, and the university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. The figures below come directly from Stanford's official Common Data Set.
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Stanford admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Action
Stanford offers Restrictive (single-choice) Early Action — non-binding, but you may not apply early to other private colleges.
Standardized Tests
Stanford requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How Stanford weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Stanford's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Stanford admissions
How hard is it to get into Stanford?＋
Extremely hard. Stanford admitted about 3.8% of applicants in its most recent cycle, offering admission to roughly 2,302 of more than 60,000 applicants and enrolling about 1,839 first-years. It is among the most selective universities in the country, and even applicants with near-perfect grades and scores should treat it as a reach.
Does Stanford have Early Decision or Early Action?＋
Stanford offers Restrictive Early Action (single-choice, non-binding) and does not offer Early Decision. Because the program is non-binding, you are not obligated to enroll if admitted. Stanford also does not consider level of applicant's interest as an admission factor, so applying early is not a way to signal demonstrated interest.
Is a 1500 SAT good enough for Stanford?＋
A 1500 sits just below Stanford's admitted range. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years who submitted scores were at 1520-1570 on the SAT and 34-36 on the ACT, with a 25th-percentile SAT of 1520. Stanford reinstated its testing requirement starting with Fall 2026 applicants, so the SAT or ACT is required, and roughly 98% of enrolled students scored 1400-1600.
What GPA do you need to get into Stanford?＋
Stanford's enrolled first-years report an average high school GPA of about 3.94 on a 4.0 scale. There is no minimum, but the rigor of your coursework, your GPA, and your class rank are all weighed as very important factors in Stanford's holistic review, so a near-straight-A record in demanding classes is the realistic baseline.
Is Stanford free, and how much financial aid does it give?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $68,574 per year before housing and food, but Stanford meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. About 44% of students receive aid, and the average need-based package is roughly $77,279, which exceeds the sticker tuition and makes Stanford far more affordable than the published price for many families.
Do the essays matter at Stanford?＋
Yes. Stanford rates the application essay as a very important factor in admissions, on the same tier as GPA, test scores, recommendations, and character. With an admit rate near 3.8%, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the few places a strong applicant can stand apart from thousands of others with similar grades and scores.
What are the most popular majors at Stanford?＋
Computer science is the single most popular major at about 20% of degrees, followed by interdisciplinary programs (18%), engineering (17%), and the social sciences (15%). Stanford's strength in computing and engineering reflects its location in the heart of Silicon Valley.
What are my chances of getting into Stanford as an out-of-state student?＋
Stanford draws students nationally and internationally rather than favoring one state: about 56% of undergraduates come from outside California, and state residency is not considered as an admission factor. Out-of-state applicants face the same roughly 3.8% overall admit rate, and tuition is a single flat rate regardless of where you live.
Source: Stanford University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-05. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Stanford. Banner photo by Frank Schulenburg, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).