Stanford University
About
Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, in memory of their only child, Leland Jr.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 4.8-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 165 Title IV programs, 26 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 139 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing26 · 15.8%
- No Data139 · 84.2%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 7
Action history · 8
- Oct 2024Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
- Jun 2023Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Dec 2022Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (RPSY) - Postdoctoral residency programs
- Nov 2022Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (RPSY) - Postdoctoral residency programs
- Nov 2022Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (RPSY) - Postdoctoral residency programs
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 1,773 students received $11.0M in Pell grants, alongside $47.7M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 841 borrowers who entered repayment, 2 (0.2%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Stanford
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 24
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus286
- Non-campus2
Includes 63 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- National origin7
- Race2
- Religion2
- Sexual orientation1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Xanadu1 fireHazardous productDamage $0-$99
- Roble Hall1 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
- Kimball Hall1 fireElectricalDamage $250,000-$499,999
- Oak Creek Apartments1 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
Data quality: 5 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Stanford vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Stanford selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectStanford University | 92% | 3.6% | 18,625 | $13,807 | R1 Research |
| 96% | 5.4% | 11,956 | $25,184 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.0% | 35,173 | $21,590 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 8.8% | 26,793 | $28,690 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 5.4% | 6,938 | $29,519 | R1 Research | |
| 98% | 3.6% | 30,259 | $19,066 | R1 Research | |
| 94% | 6.4% | 30,210 | $18,809 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.5% | 11,886 | $20,111 | R1 Research | |
| 98% | 4.6% | 9,137 | $6,128 | R1 Research | |
| 97% | 5.4% | 29,109 | $28,699 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 3.9% | 15,564 | $23,777 | R1 Research | |
| Peer group median | 96% | 4.6% | 18,625 | $21,590 |
Institutions like Stanford
Explore the federal data for institutions in Stanford's comparison group.
- R1 ResearchRhode Island
Brown University
Grad rate96%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment11,956Net price$25,184View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.0%Enrollment35,173Net price$21,590View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Cornell University
Grad rate95%Admit rate8.8%Enrollment26,793Net price$28,690View data - R1 ResearchNew Hampshire
Dartmouth College
Grad rate96%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment6,938Net price$29,519View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Harvard University
Grad rate98%Admit rate3.6%Enrollment30,259Net price$19,066View data - R1 ResearchMaryland
Johns Hopkins University
Grad rate94%Admit rate6.4%Enrollment30,210Net price$18,809View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.5%Enrollment11,886Net price$20,111View data - R1 ResearchNew Jersey
Princeton University
Grad rate98%Admit rate4.6%Enrollment9,137Net price$6,128View data - R1 ResearchPennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate97%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment29,109Net price$28,699View data - R1 ResearchConnecticut
Yale University
Grad rate96%Admit rate3.9%Enrollment15,564Net price$23,777View data
Stanford Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
IR&DS’s mission is to facilitate institutional decision making at Stanford University by providing integrated analysis and research needed by University decision makers and publishing reports that provide insight into the performance of the institution.
Visit IR office page- Corrie PotterAssociate Vice Provost and Director of Institutional Research and Decision Support
- Leslie LuckProject Coordinator & Office Administrator
- Brian CookSenior Director of Assessment and Evaluation
- Larry GallagherSenior Assessment and Program Evaluation Analyst
- Sara VasquezSenior Assessment and Program Evaluation Analyst
- Tallie WetzelSenior Assessment and Program Evaluation Analyst
- Jared BoyceSenior Assessment and Evaluation Analyst
- Joanna MendelsohnAssessment Data Analyst
- Doug BermanData Governance Program Director
- Emily GrayData Governance Architect
- Patrick KaoDirector of Decision Support Services & Business Intelligence
- Janice PangSenior Business Intelligence and Reporting Analyst
- Clara CarterBusiness Intelligence and Reporting Analyst
- Ryan BungardAssociate Director of Decision Support Services
- Jennifer R. WeldenSIRIS Business Systems Analyst
- Tricia SullivanStudent Reporting Project Manager
- Biju JacobData Engineer
- Kristine KilanskiDirector of Institutional Research
- Shannon MonahanSenior Institutional Research Analyst
- Leo RosenSenior Institutional Research Analyst
- William SearleSenior Admissions Research Analyst
- B. Pinar BasimInstitutional Research Analyst
- Trish HernandezInstitutional Research Analyst
- Lisa LambethInstitutional Research Analyst
- Jonathan SiuInstitutional Research Data Analyst
Research funding
External research funding from NSF, NIH, HERD, and federal spending sources.
Common Data Set
Stanford's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Source publications
Reports & documents (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardirds.stanford.edu
- Data definitionGuides & Standards | Data GovernanceThis page from Stanford University's Data Governance section outlines various guides and standards related to data governance, including roles, principles, policies, and best practices. Several of these guides are indicated as 'coming soon.' Additionally, there are mentions of data stewardship, naming standards, and responsibilities within Stanford's data governance framework.datagovernance.stanford.edu
- Data dictionarySTARR Anonymized Dataset Data Dictionary2017The STARR Anonymized Dataset Data Dictionary provides detailed information on the structure and contents of an anonymized database resource for Stanford Medicine researchers. It includes data from the Epic system at Stanford Hospitals and Clinics, imaging data from Radiology, and historical clinical data from previous EMRs. This dictionary outlines various elements such as demographics, encounters, billing codes, lab results, and more, employing anonymization techniques like identifier coding and date jittering to ensure privacy. It serves as an essential tool for researchers seeking to utilize Stanford's comprehensive clinical data while maintaining patient confidentiality.med.stanford.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- GlossaryStanford University Institutional Research GlossaryStanford University's Institutional Research Glossary provides definitions and explanations of terms commonly used in the context of research conducted at the university. It serves as a resource for understanding research policies, procedures, and processes at Stanford, helping users to navigate the complexities of research administration and compliance. The glossary categorizes terms alphabetically, covering a wide range of topics including costs, compliance, funding, and proposal development.doresearch.stanford.edu
Notable alumni of Stanford (25)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Sergey BrinComputer Science and electrical engineering
- Vinton CerfComputer Science and electrical engineering
- Larry PageComputer Science and electrical engineering
- Phil KnightBusiness
- Reed HastingsBusiness
- Jensen HuangBusiness
- Jerry YangBusiness
- Wallace SterlingAcademia
- French A. CordovaAcademia
- Joseph I. CastroAcademia
- Morris ChangBusiness
- Peter ThielBusiness
Frequently asked questions about Stanford University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Stanford.
What is the acceptance rate at Stanford University?
What is the graduation rate at Stanford University?
How many students attend Stanford University?
What is the average net price at Stanford University?
What is the yield rate at Stanford University?
Where is Stanford University located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Stanford University?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Have a question this page can’t answer?
Ask Clema anything about Stanford University and its peers — plain language in, cited answers out, in minutes instead of days.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card