Stanford University

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Stanford, CA
4.8 6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

18,625

Location Stanford, California
Website stanford.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Large Suburban

Best Colleges Rank

Size Mid-size
Status Non-profit
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.

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Ratings

Stanford is rated within the top 2% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Stanford University within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Exceptional

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1510/1580
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 34/35
GPA 3.96

Acceptance Rate

3.6%

Applications Due Jan 2, 2027
Enrollment Rate 81.9%
Application Fee $90

Applicant Competition Extreme

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$65,910

Costs for Stanford University
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$65,910
Books and Supplies		$825
Other Fees		$783
Room and Board		$21,315
Budget for Other Expenses		$4,842
Total One Year Cost		$93,675

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$122,900 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

96% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Stanford University are Social Sciences, General Studies, and Engineering. 21% of students major in Social Sciences, 16% in General Studies, and 15% in Engineering.