Overview
Enrollment
| Location | Stanford, California |
| Online | stanford.edu |
| School Type | Private 4 Year |
| Setting | Large Suburban |
| Size | Large |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Stanford University occupies a sprawling campus in California's Silicon Valley, located 30 miles south of San Francisco. The institution, founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford, features distinctive Mission Revival-style architecture with red-tiled roofs and sandstone buildings arranged around expansive quadrangles. The university maintains highly selective undergraduate admissions and is recognized for its strengths in engineering, computer science, economics, and entrepreneurial studies, with notable connections to Silicon Valley's technology sector. Stanford's 8,180-acre campus includes extensive research facilities, seven schools, and 97% of undergraduates live in university housing, which consists of traditional dormitories and theme houses. The university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Cardinal, with particular prominence in Olympic sports, tennis, and football.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Stanford is rated within the top 2% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Stanford University within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#2 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#2 in Best Private Colleges in the U.S.
#1 in Best Colleges in California
#1 in Best Private Colleges in California
#4 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#1 in Best Value Colleges in California
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 1500/1580 |
| ACT | 33/35 |
| GPA | 3.96 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | Jan 2, 2025 |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
| Application Fee | $90 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,350 |
| Other Fees | $723 |
| Room and Board | $18,619 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,777 |
| Total One Year Cost | $82,162 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 21% |
| General Studies | 16% |
| Engineering | 15% |
| Biology | 7% |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 5% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Stanford are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Questions and Answers
CollegeSimply Advisor posts about Stanford University.
- How important are extracurriculars for Stanford applications?
- Is a 33 ACT Score Considered Good?
- Is a 34 ACT Score Good?
- Is a 36 ACT score really impressive?
- Is Stanford part of the Ivy League?
- Social life at Stanford University?
- What's the difference between summa cum laude and valedictorian?
- Which colleges in the U.S. are the hardest to get into?
- Is a 1440 SAT score competitive?
- Is a 1500 SAT score good enough?
- Can I take both the SAT and ACT?
- How Many AP Classes Is Overkill?
- Stanford's Approach to Extracurricular Activities
- What GPA do I need for Stanford?
- Stanford Early Decision Acceptance Rate?
- What's the transfer acceptance rate for Stanford?
- What are my chances for Stanford admission?
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=243744 IPEDS survey data for Stanford University.
Current students may use the Stanford University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2024