Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large suburb

Stanford University

Stanford, California. 7,554 undergraduates. Admits 4% of applicants.

California colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
92%Graduation rate37 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$12,307Average net price per year38% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$125,340Median earnings 10 years after starting113% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$10,750Median debt at graduation50% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($10,750) equals 9% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($125,340). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$1,067
$75,001–$110,000$6,603
Over $110,000$47,575

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $68,544.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate92%54%
Return for second year98%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$112,810$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$125,340$58,912
Median debt at graduation$10,750$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

165 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations0—$277,054—
Computer Science434$190,776$251,042—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering134$170,593$243,697—
Medical Illustration and Informatics36$230,298——
Engineering-Related Fields127$161,521$216,431—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods511$206,046——
Mechanical Engineering148$138,150$201,843—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions26$162,219——
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering65$132,178$159,961—
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services0$152,586——
Civil Engineering176$88,016$116,849—
Area Studies36—$85,177—
Education, General113$73,527$84,336—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research30———
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication24———
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research34———
Biomedical/Medical Engineering27———
Chemical Engineering33———
Materials Engineering49———
Petroleum Engineering1———
Energy Systems Engineering1———
Engineering, Other19———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services5———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics6———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies83———
English Language and Literature, General4———
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other1———
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities13———
Biology, General26———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology1———
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences1———
Genetics14———
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology34———
Mathematics1———
Applied Mathematics49———
Statistics60———
Cognitive Science5———
Sustainability Studies37———
Philosophy5———
Chemistry5———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences43———
Physics17———
Research and Experimental Psychology10———
Public Policy Analysis31———
Anthropology4———
Economics11———
International Relations and National Security Studies28———
Political Science and Government5———
Sociology25———
Film/Video and Photographic Arts6———
Fine and Studio Arts8———
Music15———
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies5———
Public Health30———
History12———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

4%Admission rate
1,553Average SAT of admitted students
34–35ACT middle 50%
6:1Students per faculty member
22%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in California

University of California-IrvineIrvine · net price $13,866 · grad rate 87%University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles · net price $14,659 · grad rate 93%University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley · net price $14,538 · grad rate 94%University of California-DavisDavis · net price $14,318 · grad rate 86%University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla · net price $14,794 · grad rate 86%San Diego State UniversitySan Diego · net price $13,243 · grad rate 78%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Stanford University cost per year?
The average net price at Stanford University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $12,307 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Stanford University graduates earn?
Former Stanford University students earn a median of $125,340 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Stanford University?
92% of Stanford University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Stanford University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Stanford University is $10,750. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.