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Stanford University

Stanford, California · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$13,807What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
4%
Graduation rate
92%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
7,554
In-state tuition
$65,910Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$65,910
SAT midpoint
1,520
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$124,080Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$13,807

Better than 86% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

92%

Better than 97% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$124,080

Better than 99% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$12,000

Better than 97% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$87,833

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$13,807

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Stanford University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time92%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return98%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$12,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$124,080

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Stanford University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$138,613293
Cognitive Science$105,69583
Engineering-Related Fields$100,78852
Economics$98,104112
International Relations and National Security Studies$76,16661
Political Science and Government$59,29772
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$50,48741
Human Biology$50,179140
Engineering, Other$49,74189
Science, Technology and Society$44,73627
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$41,15624
English Language and Literature, General$30,54452
MathematicsNot reported65
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported57
Biology, GeneralNot reported56
Mechanical EngineeringNot reported56
PhysicsNot reported33
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported32
Applied MathematicsNot reported31
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported30
HistoryNot reported25
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported21
PhilosophyNot reported19
Public Policy AnalysisNot reported16
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported15
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported13
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringNot reported13
SociologyNot reported13
ChemistryNot reported12
Materials EngineeringNot reported12
Chemical EngineeringNot reported10
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported9
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported9
Area StudiesNot reported9
AnthropologyNot reported9
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported7
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported7
MusicNot reported7
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringNot reported5
Urban Studies/AffairsNot reported4
Systems Science and TheoryNot reported4
Civil EngineeringNot reported3
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported2
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
ArcheologyNot reported2
Philosophy and Religious Studies, OtherNot reported1
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Sustainability StudiesNot reportedNot reported

All 51 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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