UCLA vs. Stanford

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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.

University of California Los Angeles
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with Stanford University in Stanford, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; Stanford University 6:1.

UCLA vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 University of California Los Angeles than Stanford ($14,512 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 13.8% lower than at Stanford University ($18,369 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 333.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $50,707 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.4% higher at Stanford than at University of California Los Angeles (about $16,507 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $49,403.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at University of California Los Angeles (61% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 144.9% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($62,755 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 130 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at UCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UCLA (3.92).
  • UCLA has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

UCLA vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 University of California Los Angeles's (90%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $52,200 more per year than UCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $70,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $3,825 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($12,475 vs. $16,300).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($128 vs. $168).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 78%)

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.