College Profiles/ Stanford University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Stanford University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Stanford, CA · 7,289 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Stanford University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Stanford University admitted 3.8% of 60,646 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1520 to 1570.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $97,545.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $72,166.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Restrictive Early Action Nov 1, Regular Decision Jan 5.[3]
3.8%
Overall admit rate[1]
1520 to 1570
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$97,545
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$72,166
Average need-based grant[1]
$40.8B
Endowment, FY2025[4]
92.0%
Six-year graduation rate[5]
Stanford University at a Glance
- Location
- Stanford, CA
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 5:1[6]
- Endowment
- $40.8 billion (FY2025)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Required[3]
- Application
- Common App[3]
- First-year retention
- 97.5%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on Stanford University
The ConnectPrep take
Stanford is explicit about its order of priorities. Academic excellence comes first, meaning near-perfect grades in rigorous courses, then intellectual vitality, then the depth and impact of activities rather than their number, all read in light of each applicant's circumstances. The numbers match: a 3.8% admit rate, a 3.94 average GPA, and 97% of enrolled students in the top 10%. Restrictive Early Action on Nov 1 is nonbinding; early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacies, so choose REA for fit. Testing is now required. With a middle 50% SAT of 1520 to 1570 and ACT of 34 to 36, we tell families to aim for 1570, and retest until the score reaches at least 1545. The biggest trap is the Arts Portfolio, which moves the Common App up to Oct 15 for REA.
What to do this fall
- Schedule SAT or ACT dates early in junior year, since scores are now required; aim for 1570 or a 36.
- If submitting an Arts Portfolio, file the Common App by Oct 15 for REA or Dec 5 for RD.
- Show intellectual vitality with a specific idea your student pursued beyond the assignment, not a list of honors.
- File the CSS Profile, IDOC and FAFSA by Nov 15 for REA to receive aid in mid-December.
Applying to Stanford University? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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Stanford University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
60,646 |
2,302 |
3.8% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 79.9%.[1]
- 669 students were offered a waitlist spot, 573 accepted one, and 57 were admitted from it.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
750 to 780 |
| SAT Math[1] |
770 to 800 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1520 to 1570 |
| ACT composite[1] |
34 to 36 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
56% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
21% |
| Average high school GPA[1] |
3.94 |
| Ranked in top 10% of high school class[1] |
97% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1570 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 36 on the ACT. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Stanford University looks for
In its own words: Stanford says its primary criterion is academic excellence ("flawless or nearly flawless grades in rigorous courses"), followed by intellectual vitality, depth and impact of extracurricular activities over quantity, and careful attention to each applicant's circumstances.[7]
Stanford University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Restrictive Early Action |
Nov 1 |
mid-Dec |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 5 |
early Apr |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Stanford University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Optional Arts Portfolio
Before RD |
Common App Oct 15 (REA) or Dec 5 (RD); arts materials Oct 20 (REA) or Dec 10 (RD) |
Applicants submitting an arts portfolio must file the Common App about a month early: Oct 15 instead of Nov 1 for REA and Dec 5 instead of Jan 5 for RD.[3] |
| CSS Profile and FAFSA priority |
Nov 15 (REA); Feb 15 (RD) |
Priority filing date for CSS Profile, IDOC and FAFSA is Nov 15 for REA applicants (aid notification mid-December) and Feb 15 for RD.[8] |
See how Stanford University compares with other colleges in the West deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Stanford University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$97,545 |
| Tuition[2] |
$67,731 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
44.9% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$72,166 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$77,279 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
100.0% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[1] |
3 students, average $11,890 |
On-campus budget: tuition 67,731, housing and food 22,944, student fees allowance 2,610, books 855, personal 3,405; travel varies; new students also pay one-time orientation (525) and document (250) fees.[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $97,545 cost of attendance down to roughly $25,379 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Stanford University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[9]
- Aid packages are loan-free.[9]
- Families earning less than $150,000 with assets typical of that income pay no tuition; families earning less than $100,000 pay no tuition or room and board.[9]
- International students: "Stanford has a limited amount of financial aid for international students"; international applicants needing aid must indicate it on the admission application.[10]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[11]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$0 (aid exceeded cost) |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$0 (aid exceeded cost) |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$3,212 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$11,092 |
| Over $110,000 |
$53,882 |
| All aided students |
$13,807 |
Academics and Majors at Stanford University
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Computer and information sciences20%
- Interdisciplinary studies18%
- Social sciences15%
- Engineering14%
- Mathematics and statistics6%
Signature programs
COLLEGE (Civic, Liberal, and Global Education)
A first-year liberal arts requirement built around deep intellectual engagement.[12]
Sophomore College
A pre-autumn residential seminar program for rising sophomores.[13]
Undergraduate research grants
Independent projects under faculty mentorship, funded by student research grants.[14]
Bing Honors College
An honors program run through participating departments, with housing and dining support for thesis writers.[15]
Bing Overseas Studies Program
Stanford-run study abroad programs.[16]
Structured Liberal Education
A residence-based first-year humanities program.[17]
Stanford University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
97.5% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
45.3% |
| Graduated within six years[5] |
92.0% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[11] |
$124,080 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[11] |
$12,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[11] |
19% |
Make Stanford University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
Stanford University FAQs
What is the Stanford University acceptance rate?
Stanford University admitted 3.8% of first-year applicants (2,302 of 60,646), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
When are the Stanford University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Restrictive Early Action Nov 1; Regular Decision Jan 5. 1 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Stanford University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $97,545. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $72,166. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Stanford University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1520 to 1570 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1570, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Required.
Does Stanford require the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required; scores were optional only through the Class of 2029. The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 1520 to 1570 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT. We advise reaching at least the 1545 midpoint and aiming for 1570, retesting as needed.
Is Stanford free for some families?
Yes. Families earning less than $150,000 with assets typical of that income pay no tuition, and families earning less than $100,000 pay no tuition or room and board. Stanford meets 100% of need, and its aid is loan free. Aid for international students is limited and must be requested on the application.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stanford University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
