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Stanford University

Stanford, United States

  • Cost of Living$ 18,104.04
  • Tuition Fee From$ 25,440
  • Country Rank-
  • Batch Strength16,319
  • Global Diversity23%
  • Gender Ratio53 : 47

Overview

About

Leland Stanford University is the full name of Stanford Junior University a famous private coeducational university in Stanford, California, in the United States (it is close to Palo Alto). The institution was established in 1885 by railroad tycoon Leland Stanford and his wife Jane (née Lathrop); it was named after their only child, Leland Jr, and it was inaugurated in 1891. The majority of Stanford's original Palo Alto farm is now the university campus. The buildings are made of soft buff sandstone. They were created by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and designed by architect Charles Allerton Coolidge.

 

The campus was severely damaged by earthquakes in 1906 and 1989, but both times it was restored. Although just 500 women were allowed to attend between 1899 and 1933, the university has always been co-educational. The majority of Stanford's undergraduate students spend one or two academic quarters studying abroad at one of the university's locations in France, Germany, Japan, Italy, England, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Russia, which serves as home to nearly one-third of its students. Washington, D.C. also has a study and internship programme. The university's schools of law, education, medicine, engineering, earth sciences, business, and humanities and sciences provide a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programmes.

 

More than 120 research institutes may be found at Stanford, a top research hub in the country. In order to preserve documents related to World War I, Stanford alumnus and future U.S. president Herbert Hoover founded the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace in 1919. Today, the institution houses more than 1.6 million volumes and 50 million documents pertaining to international relations and public policy from the 20th century. Founded in 1962, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) is one of the top particle physics research facilities in the world. The Stanford Humanities Center, Institute for International Studies, and Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research are a few further renowned research facilities.

 

The university provides graduate programmes in more than 90 different subjects if we're talking about its courses. Nearly 40% of Stanford's graduate students attend the most well-liked programme, engineering. With Stanford's online classes, one can study from any location, take courses part-time, and communicate with faculty members from across the globe.

Ranking

US News and World Report of 2024 has ranked Standard University at #3 in National Universities. Another category the university ranked was at #4 in Best Value Schools. Stanford has been placed at #2 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programmes by the same educational publication in 2024.

Stanford, as we all know, has its rankings consistently among the top 100 institutions in the world, making it a strong alternative to the former East Coast Ivy Leagues. The institute has excelled by continuously releasing new inventions and reports that have an impact on scientists all around the world. The university, being one of the top-ranked institutions in the USA, is highly selective, generating some of the most creative alumni. Additionally, this explains why the university is placed first in the Reuters rankings for the World's Most Innovative Universities for 6 years running.

As one of the top institutions in the USA for both teaching and research, Stanford is well known on a global scale. The university is among the top 10 universities in the world, per several top rankings. Many ranking agencies have published the following top Stanford University rankings for 2024:

  • #2 - In the World - EduRank 2024
  • #2 - In North America - EduRank 2024
  • #2 - In the United States - EduRank 2024
  • #1 - In California - EduRank 2024

 

Course Rankings

One of the most prestigious colleges in the world, Stanford boasts one of the biggest campuses in the US. It has more than 90 fields of study for graduate students in addition to 98 undergraduate specialities. Along with 39 interdisciplinary programmes and the highly sought-after MBA programme, the graduate programmes also provide professional development training. For the most popular courses listed below, we offer recent course rankings!

 

Engineering Courses

  • #5 in Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical
  • #5 in Biomedical
  • #3 in Chemical
  • #9 in Civil
  • #3 in Computer
  • #2 in Electrical/Electronic/Communications
  • #2 in Environmental/Environmental Health
  • #8 in Industrial/Manufacturing
  • #6 in Materials (tie)
  • #4 in Mechanical

 

Computer Science Courses

  • #2 in Artificial Intelligence
  • #5 in Biocomputing/Bioinformatics/Biotechnology
  • #5 in Computer Systems
  • #4 in Cybersecurity
  • #4 in Data Analytics/Science (tie)
  • #7 in Game/Simulation Development (tie)
  • #7 in Mobile/Web Applications (tie)
  • #3 in Programming Languages
  • #4 in Software Engineering (tie)
  • #4 in Theory

Year

QS Ranks

US News Ranks

2025

#6

-

2023

#3

#3

2022

#3

#3

Facilities

Stanford provides a variety of student services, such as nonremedial tutoring, a women's centre, placement assistance, daycare, health services, and health insurance. The institution also provides 24-hour foot and vehicle inspections, late-night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, and other campus safety and security services. Here are some of the most prominent Stanford University facilities that students commonly use:

 

  • Student Affairs
  • Housing & Dining Facilities
  • Community Engagement & Diversity
  • Recreation & Wellness
  • Cardinal Athletics
  • Research Centres
  • Libraries
  • Career Education Services

Notable Alumni

Vinton Cerf
Vinton Cerf
Former Faculty, Turing Award-winning Computer Scientist
Brian Acton
Brian Acton
Co-founder of WhatsApp
Ray Dolby
Ray Dolby
Founder of Dolby Labs

Courses

Admission

Acceptance Rate

Stanford University acceptance rate is 4% for international applicants in 2024. It is among the top 1% of the most difficult universities to gain admission to in the United States. The admission policy is quite selective in terms of acceptance. Students who eye this university prepare to get in at least 2-3 years before high school graduation. This is to earn over-achieving grades and top-ranking scores. 

Over the past few years, gaining admission to Stanford University has become an increasingly arduous endeavour.  While in 2021, the acceptance rate hovered around a competitive 5.2%, this figure dipped further in subsequent years, reaching an all-time low of 4.3% in 2024. This downward trend shows the intense competition among applicants vying for a coveted spot at one of the world's most prestigious universities, where only a select few exceptional individuals secure admission each year.

 

Entry Requirements

Stanford distinguishes itself as a competitor to the ever-elite Harvard. The university admits students who have excelled in their unique life experiences. Even for those with the top scores and marks, admission to Stanford is incredibly competitive. Stanford selects students through a stringent admissions procedure. It considers each component of an application to be a part of the integrative whole in order to learn more about the applicant. The university specifies four factors that admissions authorities assess, which include the following: Academic excellence, Intellectual vitality, Extracurricular activities/non-academic interests, and Context. Here are some of the most important Stanford University entry requirements that students should make a note of -

  • Class rank 
  • A minimum GPA of 3.96 is required.
  • Test scores - Based on prior students' test scores, a minimum SAT score of 1550 or an ACT score of 35 is recommended.
  • Tiers 1 and 2 Extracurricular activities - Most competitive applicants at Stanford have one or two Tier 1 or Tier 2 activities on their resumes.
  • Interview 
  • First-generation student 
  • Interview 
  • Alumni Relations
  • Geographic location
  • Racial/ethnic origin
  • Volunteering experience
  • Letters of recommendation

 

Fees

Stanford is indeed a world-renowned university with more than 550 courses offered to students from undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes. Studying at Stanford can be quite an expensive affair, hence it is advised that students seek financial aid to support their education. Check out the most popular programmes and their duration with estimated Stanford University fees mentioned below:

  • M.B.A - $82,455 /Yr 
  • M.S Computer Science - $38,160 /Yr
  • M.S Statistics - Data Science - $38,160 /Yr 
  • B.S Computer Science - $61,731 /Yr
  • B.A Psychology - $61,731 /Yr
  • B.S Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence - $61,731 /Yr

 

Placement

Student career assistance is extensive at Stanford. To help fresh graduates advance their careers, hiring organisations and businesses run recruitment exercises on university campuses. With an average yearly income of 249,000 USD, the bachelor's degree at the institution is the highest earning. Below is a list of the top Stanford University placements for the highest-earning graduates, along with their average yearly salaries -

  • Financial Services - USD 187,000
  • Executive Management and Change - USD 175,000
  • Finance Control & Strategy - USD 150,000
  • Consulting, Accounting & Professional Services - USD 143,000
  • Program and Project Management - USD 133,000
  • IT and Software Development - USD 135,000

Scholarship

Stanford University primarily offers only a handful of need-based financial assistance to international students, including Indians. Nearly 5,000 students receive some form of financial aid at Stanford both internally and externally.

Around 66% of students received financial aid to cut down the total cost of attendance. 48% of the candidates are awarded need-based scholarships and grants with 19% of the students receiving Pell grants. To be eligible for Stanford University scholarships, international students must possess either an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a Social Security number (SSN).

No matter the academic programme you're enrolled in, both the university and external organisations like UniScholars offer numerous scholarship opportunities. With a multitude of scholarships currently accessible, international students can significantly reduce the financial strain of studying in a foreign country. If you're considering Stanford University, explore the option of applying for scholarships through UniScholars.

Finances

Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the university. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!

Accommodation

There are several student housing options available for students planning to attend Stanford University. You may select from a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.

 

UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from a wide range of available student accommodations near Stanford, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are more inexpensive and student-friendly.

Cost of Living

As students might know already, the studying costs at the university are quite heavy as is the cost of living in Stanford, owing to the quality of life the place offers. Note that most students who study and stay at Stanford acquire financial aid through scholarships or loans. To give students an estimated understanding of their expenses per quarter, we have listed down different items and their costs per quarter. Students must know that the costs can marginally differ based on where they choose to live and the kind of lifestyle they follow. 

 

Particulars

Cost (per month)

Off-Campus Accommodation 

USD 1,800  

On-Campus Accommodation

USD 1,038

Transportation

USD 70

Food Cost

USD 75

Utility Cost

USD 207

Entertainment

USD 15

Groceries

USD 15

Clothes

USD 109

Total Cost of Living with Off Campus Accommodation 

USD 2,290

Total Cost of Living with On Campus Accommodation 

USD 1,528

FAQs