Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Stanford admits about 1 in 28 applicants (3.6%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 100% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (3.4% and 3.8%).
$90 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
82% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
Wait list: 669 offered a place, 573 accepted, 57 admitted (9.9% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Restrictive early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 15
Restrictive early action: applicants agree not to apply to other colleges' early plans, with exceptions the college sets.
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How Stanford reads a record
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important. 89% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are required. 56% of first-years sent an SAT and 21% an ACT. Of the 23% whose high school reported a rank, 97% were in the top tenth.
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Very important | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test considered
Transferring in
2.3% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 3.6% of first-year applicants
4,532 applied · 102 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date March 15, apply by May 15, decisions by June 1, reply by June 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 5 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent by April 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 2 years.
Recent change: Stopped requiring high school GPA (still considered) in fall 2024.
Recent change: Requires the SAT or ACT again, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.94
From the 70% of first-years who reported a GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.073%
- 3.75–3.9916%
- 3.50–3.748%
- 3.25–3.493%
- 3.00–3.240%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.75–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 73.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 16.2% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 7.9% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 2.9% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
97% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 100% in the top quarter, of the 23% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1550 on the SAT, 380 points above the median for colleges that report scores. It requires SAT or ACT scores again from students entering in fall 2027.
Required
Send SAT or ACT scores: they're required to be considered. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
These scores are from the class that entered in fall 2025, before the change.
Score bands
Nearly all who sent an SAT (98%) scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (99%) scored 30 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (97%) scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (98%) scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (98%) scored 30 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (95%) scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 56% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 21% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
1,022 studentssubmitted ACT
385 studentsAt least half of students submitted a score, so the ranges are reasonably representative.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Stanford University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)