A
Excellent
Score: 83/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
98/100 · earnings-weighted

Stanford University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Stanford, California 94305
🌐 www.stanford.edu/
Stanford University — acceptance rate 4%, tuition $61,731
Stanford University — acceptance rate 4%, tuition $61,731
Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA
Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA. Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
96/100
Affordability
F
28/100
Resources
A+
97/100
Experience
A+
98/100
Prestige
A+
94/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

18,446
Total Enrollment
93%
Graduation Rate
98%
Retention Rate
6.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
4%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Stanford University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$124,080
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$102,887
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$12,000
Median debt at graduation
91.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,553
Average SAT
35
Median ACT
19.2%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 10% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 99th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Stanford University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$138,613$214,907+101%#6 of 349#7$10,399
Cognitive Science$105,695$131,650+62%#2 of 19#2$7,500
Mechanical Engineering—$117,072+27%#6 of 318#28—
Engineering$49,741$115,206+23%#1 of 19#3$7,500
Economics$98,104$112,700+36%#40 of 368#57$12,500
Science, Technology and Society$44,736$107,375+59%#1 of 10#1—
Engineering-Related Fields$100,788—————
International Relations and National Security Studies$76,166$91,075+37%#6 of 118#14—
English Language and Literature$30,544$82,036+69%#1 of 576#3—
Human Biology$50,179$81,529+26%#2 of 9#2$12,500
Political Science and Government$59,297————$11,705
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$50,487—————
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$41,156$45,519-12%#85 of 103#95—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Stanford University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $3,200,554
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,286/mo — vs ~$1,400/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 94043 (2.3% cap, Mountain View)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Stanford University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥈
Engineering, Other
of 29 schools
🥉
Engineering/Industrial Management
of 85 schools
#6
Civil Engineering, General
of 100 schools
#7
Computer Science
of 100 schools
#7
Education, General
of 100 schools
#11
Management Science
of 100 schools
#12
Mechanical Engineering
of 100 schools
#14
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
of 100 schools
#19
Law
of 100 schools
#23
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $61,731 $61,731
Room $12,597
Board $7,325
Total Cost (On-Campus) $87,833 $87,833

Financial Aid

68%
Receive Any Aid
20%
Receive Pell Grants
7%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

18,446
Total Students
48%
Women
96%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 25%
Hispanic 13%
Black 6%
Asian 22%
Two or More 7%
Non-Resident 25%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 95%
Hybrid (Some Online) 4%
Fully Online 1%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 96%
25-64 (Adult) 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Stanford University?
Stanford University has an acceptance rate of 4%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend Stanford University?
Tuition at Stanford University is $61,731 for in-state students and $61,731 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Stanford University?
The graduation rate at Stanford University is 93%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Stanford University a good school?
Stanford University has a Repit College Score of 83/100 (Grade: A). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Stanford University?
Stanford University has a total enrollment of 18,446 students. Most students (96%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Stanford University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Stanford University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

A
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · 47,147 students
B+
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · 10,256 students
B+
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · 9,340 students
B
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · 9,110 students
B
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · 9,545 students
B
Chapman University
Orange, CA · 9,961 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology