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Stanford University, Stanford

California, United States of America | Estd in 1885 | Private University

THE Rank : 3 | QS Rank : 3

Updated onMar 10, 2024 06:55 PM IST
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About Stanford University

Stanford University is a private university located in Stanford, USA. The university is the 2nd leading institution in the world and one of the top public universities in the U.S. Stanford University was established in 1885 and offers more than 200 graduate courses for students. 

A few of Stanford University’s popular courses include chemistry, business administration, biology, law, finance, computer science, psychology, and more. The university accepts IELTS, TOEFL, SAT or ACT, and GRE for graduate programmes. The university has seven schools or faculties with a Student-to-faculty ratio of 5:1. 

Stanford is home to 20 living Nobel Laureates and 16 additional laureates are deceased. Some of the recent Nobel Laureates are Carolyn Bertozzi (Chemistry, 2022), Guido Imbens (Economic Sciences, 2021), and Thomas Südhof (Medicine, 2013) among others. Stanford University admission requirements for international students are course-specific and are determined by the academic excellence of the applicants.

Stanford University's acceptance rate stands at 4% approximately and the application deadline for undergraduate courses is 1st November, and Stanford MBA Round 2 application deadline is Jan 4th, 2024. The applicants need to submit an application fee of USD 90 along with other required documents. 

Stanford University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The institution has 4,660 international students currently enrolled in various academic programmes from more than 70 countries coming to study in the USA

Stanford University's main campus is located on the San Francisco Peninsula which is spread over 8,180 acres. Nearly all undergraduates and more than 65% of graduate students reside in the campus residences of the university, and there are 2,145 rental units for faculty and staff. The Stanford campus is located in seven different governmental jurisdictions. There are 7,761 undergraduate and 9,565 graduate students studying on campus and making the most out of the campus facilities from academics to extracurriculars. 

Latest updates at Stanford University?

Stanford University takes students from all over the world only in the Fall term. The institute does not offer admissions due in the Winter or Spring Quarter term. All the applicants must have a secondary school diploma or its equivalent) by the time they get enrolled on their preferred courses.

The deadlines stated by the university are:

Time Period

Restrictive Early Action

Regular Decision

Application with Optional Arts PortfolioOctober 15December 5
Standard Application Deadline

November 1

January 5


What is so special about Stanford University?

Stanford University is one of the most prestigious schools which is situated in the United States. The university commits an excellence in research, teaching, and medical care. it values diversity and provides all students with an opportunity to build connection and community with accurate learning of study principles. 

The university is very special due to its top recognition and impressive rankings among other universities. It has impressively secured a third position in "best National universities" by US News in 2024. The engineering programmes offered by the university are one of the best. The doctorate course curriculum has been ranked at 2nd position in 2024 as well.

Stanford University Highlights

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Year of Establishment1885
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Institute TypeUniversity
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OwnershipPrivate
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Number Of Students8049
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Campus Size8180 acres
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Faculty Count4633
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Acceptance Rate4%
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Fee Range17.05 L - ₹51.16 L/yr
Bachelors vs Masters
Gender Ratio
Male: 49%Female: 51%
Male: 49%Female: 51%
Student Demographic
  • Domestic:   6681
  • International:   1368

Stanford University Ranking and Stats

Stanford University is ranked 5th in the QS World University Rankings, 4th in the QS WUR Ranking By Subject, and 2nd in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings of 2024. Times Higher Education has ranked the university 2nd in the World University Rankings of 2024 and the university is 3rd in the Best Global Universities Rankings by the U.S. News and World Report, 2024. 

Stanford University has jumped one spot above being the 3rd best university in the world (THE, 2023), and is ahead of Harvard University (4th) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (3rd).

The subject-wise rankings given by the U.S. News and World Report are 1st in Chemistry and Mathematics; 2nd in Computer Science; 3rd in Biology and Biochemistry, Economics and Business, Physics, and Psychiatry/Psychology; 5th in Immunology; 7th in Surgery; 8th in Arts and Humanities among others. The University is also ranked 2nd in Engineering Programmes at the Doctorate level.

Is Stanford better than Harvard?

Stanford and Harvard Universities are both equally reputed and top schools in the United States. As per the rankings conducted by US News in 2024, both of them are in the 3rd position under the category of "Best Global Universities". Hence, one must select the university accordingly.

Ranking Body
THE
Subject
Overall

Parametric Score and Ranking 2024

Overall Score98
University rank2
Parameter Ranking
Citations
99.6
Industry Outcome
100
International Outlook
87
Research
97.8
Teaching
99

Ranking by year

Ranking

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Score
Rank
Stanford University, Stanford
Adjacently Ranked Colleges

Stanford University Courses

Stanford University is one of the leading universities and offers 67 majors in undergraduate and nearly 200 fields of study in Graduate programmes. Stanford University’s popular courses based on U.S. News and World Report Rankings are Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Human Biology, Arts and Humanities, and others.

Stanford University has seven schools or 7 main faculties which are Business, Earth, Education, Engineering, Humanities & Sciences, Law, and, Medicine. The University also offers free online courses across the fields of Health Medicine, Education, Engineering, and others.

Does Stanford have free courses? 

Yes, Stanford University does provide free-of-cost courses which are available to international and national students online. It provides students with an affordable and flexible way to learn new skills and study new and emerging topics

Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Education Level
Select
Stream
Select
Mode
Select
LevelUG
MajorElectrical
Duration48 Months
Fees51.40 L/yr
LevelUG
MajorGeology
Duration48 Months
Fees51.40 L/yr
LevelUG
MajorArts
Duration48 Months
Fees51.40 L/yr
LevelUG
MajorHistory
Duration48 Months
Fees17.13 L/yr
LevelUG
MajorArts
Duration48 Months
Fees51.40 L/yr
LevelUG
MajorArts
Duration48 Months
Fees51.40 L/yr

Stanford University Affiliated Colleges

Stanford University Fees

CoursesDurationInternational StudentLocal Student
BS(10 courses)4 years₹51.16 L/yr₹51.16 L/yr
B.A.(5 courses)4 years₹17.05 L - ₹51.16 L/yr₹17.05 L - ₹51.16 L/yr
B.A.(Hons)(1 courses)4 years₹51.16 L/yr₹51.16 L/yr

Stanford University Cost Of Living

Stanford University's tuition fee for international students is slightly higher than home students and varies with the courses. The average annual tuition fee for overseas students is calculated at USD 61,731 for the 2023-24 session. Stanford University tuition fees are calculated based on the units per quarter for all the degree programmes. The full-time enrolment is 12-20 units per quarter and the summer enrolment is 1-7 units per quarter for both UG and Graduate programmes. Stanford University MBA fees are USD 26,620 for the first, and USD 25,650 for the second academic year.

Is Stanford University expensive for international students?

The international student coming to study at Stanford can expect to spend around USD 88,000 per year. New Student Orientation Fee (USD 525) and the Document Fee (USD 250) are the one-time fees that will be included in the budgets of new students. 

The estimated living expenses for Stanford students are mentioned in the table below.

Stanford University Cost of living for international students

Cost Item

Expenses for Academic Year (2023-24) in US dollars

Tuition and fees

61,731

Housing 

22,585 

Cardinal Care Health Insurance

7,128

Books and Supplies Allowance

720

Personal Expenses Allowance

11,240

Travel

2,400

Food

9,440


How much does it cost to live in Stanford campus for Indian students? 

The housing comes to around USD 19,922 which is nearly Rs 16,50,525 and the food expenses are USD 9,440 which is around Rs 7,82,264. Hence, Indian prospective students are recommended to gather the living allowances prior to admission. 

Stanford University Admission and Application

Application deadline May,2024

Stanford University admission criteria are becoming highly selective due to the rising number of applicants. The\ University’s acceptance rate for international students is only around 4%, which makes it extremely difficult to get into the university. International applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen degree programme before applying for admission. The applicants can apply online through the Common Application service.

How to Apply to Stanford University?

Stanford University's application process is mentioned below. The applicants must follow the given steps to apply to the University.

  • Visit the official website of the university at stanford.edu.

  • Click on the Admission tab and a new page will open.

  • Select the degree programme of choice (UG or Graduate admissions).

  • Click on the Apply tab and select International Applicants.

  • After checking all the mentioned requirements, click on the link for the First-Year Applicants as the application process is the same for both.

  • Click on the Common Application link and create an account.

  • Login credentials will be sent via the registered email address of the applicant.

  • Use the credentials to log into the portal and fill out the application.

  • Pay the application fee and submit the form.

  • After submission of the application, the applicants will be sent an acknowledgment email with instructions on how to log into the Stanford portal to check the status of the application.

Stanford University Application Fee

International applicants must pay the application fee of USD 90 for undergraduate studies. The fee is nonrefundable.

Request for application fee waiver

Stanford University offers fee waivers to students who have demonstrated financial need through a complete submitted application. The applicants can use the Common Application fee waiver guidelines to determine their eligibility. They may request a fee waiver by selecting 'Yes' to the application's Common App Fee Waiver question.

Documents required for admission to Stanford University's UG Programmes

  • Senior Secondary School (class 12th) Certificate.

  • Academic Transcripts (official).

  • ACT / SAT scores, if available or required by the programme (UG).

  • GRE scores if required by the programme (Graduate).

  • Letter of recommendation from two teachers who are well informed of the academic aptitude of the applicant.

  • Two personal essays (100 and 250 words each).

  • Proof of English proficiency as per the university/programme requirements.

Note: Stanford is test-optional for the 2023–24 application cycle and requires just one exam—either the ACT or the SAT. The Writing/Essay section is not required.

Institutional Codes of Stanford University

Tests 

Codes 

ACT

0434

SAT

4704

TOEFL

4704


Documents required for Stanford University Graduate Programmes

The professional schools of Graduate studies have separate admissions offices and applications. 

  • The applicants can visit the official websites of their chosen schools or graduate programmes and follow the instructions and the documents required to complete the application process. 

  • Each graduate programme has its policy on GRE Test scores. If the selected program requires GRE scores, the applicants must report their official scores directly to Stanford from ETS (GRE Code: 4704).

  • A three-year bachelor’s degree in any subject is not considered sufficient for graduate study at Stanford. The two-year master’s degree following the three-year bachelor’s degree from India is required.

How can Indian students get admission to Stanford University?

Stanford University is a highly competitive university which takes only 4% of total applications. All Indian applicants must show outstanding academic backgrounds with special talents like dancing, music, athletics, etc. Students can get into the university with excellent scores in high school and university along with a good ranking in entrance examinations such as GRE or GMAT.

Stanford University Scholarship

Stanford University Scholarships are offered only on the basis of financial needs and a limited amount of financial aid is available for international students. Students who wish to get assistance from the university must mention this on the admission application and the eligible individuals will be awarded assistance from institutional funds. In order to receive university scholarship funds, international students must obtain either a Social Security number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), the information about which is available on the website of Stanford's Bechtel International Center. 

Students pursuing graduate programs at Stanford University can also obtain financial assistance in the form of fellowships, assistantships, and program-specific grants. Some of Stanford University’s scholarships for Indian students pursuing graduate studies are mentioned below. International students can also apply for several other scholarships in the U.S.

  • Stanford Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship

  • AMA Medical Scholarship

  • Knight Hennessy Scholarship

  • Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program

  • JN Tata Endowment Scholarship

  • Fulbright Scholarship 

  • KC Mahindra Trust Scholarship

What are the eligibility criteria for scholarships at Stanford University?

Stanford University offers a few of the financial aid for international students. Hence, international students needing assistance must declare the same while applying on the admission application. Applicants who are admitted with aid eligibility are awarded assistance from institutional funds based on their family financial circumstances.

Stanford University Eligibility

The eligibility requirements for admission to the Graduate Studies at Stanford University may vary according to the academic programmes. The applicants can check their eligibility under their selected degree course. The primary criterion for UG admission to Stanford is academic excellence. There is no minimum GPA or test score required, rather applicants are assessed through their academic record or transcripts. In, simple terms the better applicants perform in their academics, the higher the chances of them getting into the university.

Stanford University English Language Proficiency Requirements for Undergraduate Programmes

Stanford University does not require any English proficiency exams for international applicants applying for the Undergraduate Programmes. Applicants may submit the scores for exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, etc. if they wish to but the university has no preferred proficiency exam. Although fluency in English is a prerequisite for admission to Stanford.

Stanford University English Language Proficiency Requirements for Graduate Programmes

Graduate applicants who do not have English as their first language may required to prove their proficiency in English through the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). The minimum scores required for various graduate programmes are mentioned in the table below. 

Stanford University TOEFL Scores accepted for Graduate Programmes

Graduate Programmes

Minimum Scores

Doctoral Programmes (all)

100

Master’s Programmes (except School of Engineering)

100

School of Engineering

89


How many Indians get into Stanford?

Stanford University is very particular in selecting candidates for the university. It takes almost 500 students from India every year. Hence, all Indian applicants are recommended to provide all the original and correct documents to showcase their eligibility.

Stanford University Campus Facilities

Hostel

Boys Hostel

Students are assigned to one of eight neighborhoods. Each has a mix of traditional dorms, theme houses, Rowhouses, Greek housing, co-ops, and apartment-style residences to meet a variety of student preferences. And Frosh housing options for the 2022-2023 academic year include:

  • Wilbur Hall East: Arroyo, Cedro, Junipero, Okada
  • Wilbur Hall West: Otero, Rinconada, Soto, Trancos
  • Stern Hall
  • Crothers Hall
  • Branner Hall
  • Lantana Hall and Castaño Hall
  • Florence Moore Hall
  • Lagunita Court
  • Governor’s Corner

The residences have dining meal plans and consider the students' dietary requirements.

Girls Hostel

Stanford University USA offers housing and dining facilities to the students, faculty and other members. All the apartments are provided with all essential amenities.

Study Amenities

Library

Stanford University has many libraries like Cecil H. Green Library, Academy Hall (SRWC), Archive of Recorded Sound, Bowes Art & Architecture Library, Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections, Business Library, Classics Library, Cubberley Education Library, David Rumsey Map Center, and others. In order to address the intellectual curiosity of the wide variety of students the Stanford Libraries have created a dynamic network of materials, locations, and topic specialists. The possibilities for advancing and transforming academia are endless for students with over 12 million items, 50 topic specialists, 20 Stanford University campus libraries, and a wide range of services accessible. The library also offers workshops to students and there are great study spaces around the university to study.

Stanford University facilities at the library include

  • Access & Privileges
  • Borrow, renew, return
  • Connect to e-resources
  • Course reserves (SearchWorks)
  • Interlibrary borrowing
  • Print, copy, scan (The Hub)
  • Accessibility
  • Research Support
  • Digital Collections and Online Exhibitions
  • Articles
  • eJournals
  • EarthWorks
  • Specialists
  • Data services

Moot Court

The Marion Rice Kirkwood Memorial Competition, held each year between the Autumn and Winter semesters, is Stanford Law School's main moot court activity.

Classrooms

The classrooms at Stanford University use flexible audio-visual capability, which typically includes an AV control system, a projector, and a pull-down or automatic screen. In some cases, flat-screen displays are provided for quality. The classrooms have built-in microphones for a clear and sound experience.

Sports

Sports

Stanford University is very invested in the lives of its students and provides men's and women's sports respectively with many choices like Artistic Swimming, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Track and Field, Water Polo, Wrestling and more. Students can even join around 800 club sports for networking and socializing.

The ACSR is a recreational facility for students, faculty, and staff measuring 75,000 square feet. The Erickson Family Courts (three full-length basketball courts), seven squash courts, the Fencing Center, and a 3,600-square-foot studio are all part of the 11,000-square-foot fitness room with weight machines and cardio equipment.

Transportation

Transport Facility

Stanford University campus life is easier to access as it aims to provide the best and most accessible transport to its students. Marguerite shuttle is free and open to the public – no ID is required. All buses are wheelchair-accessible and have bike racks. Students can even check out sustainable transport like Zipcars, Hertz Car Rentals, and Airport Shuttles at discounted rates for Stanford affiliates. There are other forms of transportation that the students can check on the official website- .stanford.edu for more information.


Differently Abled

Physical Challenged Student

  • Learning Center
  • Note-taking services
  • Oral tests
  • Note-taking services
  • Reader Services
  • Special housing/ transportation
  • Talking books
Infrastructure

Cafeteria

Stanford cafés have convenient meal options from made-to-order meals to easy grab-n-go options. There are diverse menus prepared using seasonal, locally-sourced, and sustainable ingredients whenever possible. The many options available include vegan, vegetarian, allergen-friendly, kosher, and halal options are available.

The cafes are

  • The Axe & Palm
  • EVGR Pub & Beer Garden
  • Coffee Bar @ the Clark Center
  • The Med Café
  • Forbes Family Cafe
  • Olives at Bldg. 160
  • Alumni Café
  • SLACafé
  • Cardinal Café
  • Law School Café
  • Ray’s Grill
  • Verve Coffee Roasters

There are dining halls for students at different locations around the Stanford University campus like Arrillaga Family Dining Commons, Lakeside Dining, Wilbur Dining, Stern Dining, Branner Dining, Gerhard Casper Dining, Florence Moore Dining, Ricker Dining, Suites Dining Yost, Murray and EAST, EVGR Dining, Row (Self-Op) Dining, and, Co-Op Dining.


I.T Infrastructure

IT Infrastructure is responsible for the Stanford network (SUNet), as well as Stanford’s voice application services. The IT services provide are consistent and seamless to its thousands of users who study and work at the Stanford University campus’s main section. There are over one hundred sites across the Bay Area, greater California, and scattered locations throughout the United States and foreign countries.

Stanford University International Office Details

Stanford University is the second-best university in the world. Many students from around the world aspire to study at Stanford. The university invites international students with strong academic backgrounds and great potential from across the globe. Currently, 4669 international students are studying at the university which makes up 24% of the total student body (Fall, 2022). Out of these, 11% are undergraduate and 34% are graduate students.

Is it hard to get into Stanford University as an international student?

The Stanford University acceptance rate stands at approximately 4% which shows that the university’s admission process is highly selective and it is extremely difficult to get admission at Stanford but with great efforts and excellent academic records and professional aptitude, international students can get into the university. International students can contact Stanford University at the given details.

Address: Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305–2004

Phone No. 650-723-2300

Email Address: new_intl_students@stanford.edu 

Who is the famous Indian from Stanford?

There are various famous Indians who graduated from Stanford University. One of them is Sundar Pichai who completed his degree of MS in engineering and materials science. He was awarded a scholarship to study at Stanford University.

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FAQ's

Stanford University is an expensive institution, especially for students coming from overseas. To become eligible for Stanford scholarships, students must demonstrate their academic ability or financial status (applying for financial aid). The university first reviews the financial situation of the applicant’s family, and upon satisfaction will provide the applicant with scholarships, grants, and other financial resources accordingly.

Stanford University offers a variety of scholarships for international students on the basis of academic performance and financial need. Eligible students can get detailed information on Stanford's Bechtel International Center. Some of Stanford University’s popular scholarships include the Knight Hennessy Scholarship, and Fullbright Scholarship among others.

Stanford University enjoys the global reputation of being one of the top universities in the world. Along with that, Stanford University’s alumni are world-known personalities and have contributed to the global community in various ways. Some of the notable alumni include Larry Page, Sundar Pichai, Mukesh Ambani, and Reed Hastings among others.

Stanford University is one of the top-most universities of all time, which obviously makes its admission process extremely difficult. However, with great academic achievements and a positive outlook, students can get into the university. Applicants applying after 12th must check all the eligibility criteria for their selected degree programme and can follow the further instructions as per the university’s guidelines.

The acceptance rate of Stanford is approximately 4%. The university has very long and selective admission criteria. International students applying for admission at Stanford must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement in order to get admitted to the university.

Both Harvard and Stanford are among the leading institutions of the world and are generally placed in the top 5 in most of the rankings. As per the QS, Harvard is ranked 4th while Stanford is ranked 5th; whereas THE has ranked Stanford 2nd and Harvard 4th in its 2024 rankings. Overall, both are renowned for their unparalleled academic excellence.

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