Reed vs. Stanford

Deciding between Reed College and Stanford University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Reed College
Stanford University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Reed Portland, OR
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Reed Large City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Reed 1,358
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Reed Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Reed #77
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Reed -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Reed Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Reed
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Reed $69,350
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Reed $69,350
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Reed $17,660
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Reed $30,953
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Reed $55,445
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Reed 58%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Reed 9,431
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Reed 2,321
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Reed 24.6%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Reed 13.1%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Reed 1410
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Reed 32
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Reed 4.0
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Reed A/A+
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Reed Exceptional
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Reed High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Reed 30/34
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Reed 1290/1520
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Reed Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Reed
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Reed 9:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Reed
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Foreign Languages (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Reed 80%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Reed $47,200
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Reed 84%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Reed $16,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Reed $165
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Reed 42%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Reed 58%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Reed Medium
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Reed No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Reed 60%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Reed 5%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Reed 2%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Reed 11%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Reed 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Reed 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Reed 8%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Reed 7%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Reed 5%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Reed 16%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Reed 77%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Reed Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Reed No
  • Stanford Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Reed Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Reed No
  • Stanford No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Reed No
  • Stanford Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Reed College in Portland, OR with Stanford University in Stanford, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stanford University is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Reed College is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Reed College 9:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Reed vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Reed or Stanford? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Stanford University than Reed ($25,078 vs. $30,953).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 17.1% lower than at Stanford University ($17,660 vs. $21,315).
  • Reed College is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $3,440 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Reed than at Stanford University (about $3,440 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Reed College (61% vs. 58%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 13.2% larger than aid received by Reed College students ($62,755 vs. $55,445).

Reed vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Reed or Stanford? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Stanford and Reed.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 140 points higher than at Reed (1410).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Reed).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Reed College 1290/1520; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Reed College 30/34; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Reed - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Stanford (3.96).
  • Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Reed vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Reed vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Reed and Stanford? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Reed College's (80%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $75,700 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $3,525 lower median loan debt than Reed graduates ($12,475 vs. $16,000).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Reed graduates ($128 vs. $165).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Reed students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.