All Universities
πŸ›οΈ

Stanford University

Stanford, CA, United States OPT/H1B policy under review Private Est. 1891 Suburban

QS #2THE #2Payback ~6 mo
#2
QS World Ranking
4%
Acceptance Rate
17,500
Total Students
~4,000
International students (23%)

About

Silicon Valley neighbor; birthplace of countless startups

Type
Private
Founded
1891
Campus
Suburban
Total students
17,500
International students
~4,000 (23%)
Acceptance
4%
Intl applications

Notable Alumni

Larry PageSergey BrinSundar PichaiElon Musk (briefly)Reed HastingsPeter ThielTiger Woods

Admissions Snapshot

Indicative cutoffs and deadlines. Always confirm on the official admissions page.

Test Cutoffs

SAT1500–1570ACT34–36TOEFL100+IELTS7.0+GRERequired (most PhDs); optional MSGMAT740+ (GSB MBA)

Eligibility

Strong college-prep curriculum, demonstrated leadership/initiative, 2 teacher letters, 1 counselor letter, school report. Restrictive Early Action available.

Intake Deadlines

Fall (Sept) β€” REANov 1
Fall (Sept) β€” RegularJan 5
GraduateDec 1 (typical)

Compare Stanford University with another university

Pick another university and put them head-to-head on QS, NIRF, fees, placement, payback β€” all on one row.

Open compare tool β†’

Scholarships Available

Scholarships matched to Stanford University or USA. Check eligibility on the official page before applying.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars official β†—
PG Β· Graduate students; leadership and academic merit Β· Full tuition + stipend
Full funding
Harvard Need-Based Financial Aid official β†—
UG Β· Need-blind admission; family income criteria Β· Up to 100% of tuition + living
Full tuition + room/board
MIT Need-Based Aid official β†—
UG Β· Need-blind admission for international students Β· Up to full tuition + living
Full tuition
Princeton Need-Based Grant official β†—
UG Β· Need-blind admission; no loans policy Β· Full grant, no loans
Full tuition + room/board
Yale International Financial Aid official β†—
UG Β· Need-blind for internationals; covers full need Β· Full demonstrated need
Full tuition + living
NYU Wagner Dean's Scholarship official β†—
PG Β· Merit-based; for masters in public service Β· Partial to full tuition
Full tuition
5.0
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
1 student review Β· avg from testimonials

Programs Offered

Undergraduate (UG)

Program Duration Fees Intake Scholarship
BS in Computer Science 4 Years $62,000/yr β€” β€”

Postgraduate (PG)

Program Duration Fees Intake Scholarship
Juris Doctor (JD) 3 Years $67,000/yr β€” β€”

Studying in United States πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Estimated Costs

  • Public Universityβ‚Ή17L – β‚Ή38L / year
  • Private Universityβ‚Ή37L – β‚Ή60L+ / year
  • Living Costsβ‚Ή10L – β‚Ή18L / year
  • Visa Fee$185 + $250 integrity fee
  • Health Insurance$1,500 – $3,000 / year

Visa & Work

  • Visa TypeF-1 Student Visa
  • Social Media VettingMandatory (new 2026)
  • Financial ProofFull first-year costs
  • OPT Duration12 months (36 for STEM)

Admissions

  • Major IntakeFall (Aug – Sep)
  • Secondary IntakeSpring (Jan)
  • Application SystemCommon Application
  • SAT Target1400+ for merit aid
  • Evaluation StyleHolistic (essays, ECs, recs)

Student Reviews

u/bay_area_student reddit
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
MS Computer Science Β· Class of 2025
"Stanford CS is in a league of its own. Proximity to Silicon Valley means you're constantly meeting founders and VCs. Internship opportunities are everywhere."
Pros
  • Silicon Valley proximity
  • Top-tier peers
  • Beautiful campus
Cons
  • Housing is insanely expensive
  • Competitive culture

Data Sources

L2 QS World University Rankings (qs_ranking)
L2 Times Higher Education Rankings (the_ranking)
L1 Official