Universities in Stanford, The United States

Stanford, in California, is the home of Stanford University, which describes itself as part of Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. The university was founded by Leland and Jane Stanford in 1885 and opened in 1891. Its campus covers 8,353 acres in a large suburban setting, and student life is largely campus life.

Stanford University is the only university listed in our directory in Stanford. This page explains what it offers, how international students apply and what it costs.

What Stanford University offers

As of autumn 2025, Stanford had 7,289 undergraduate and 10,025 graduate students. Its seven schools share one campus: Business, the Doerr School of Sustainability, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law and Medicine. Degrees range from the BA and BS to master's degrees, the PhD, the MD, the JD and a two-year full-time MBA. The university is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and 20 Nobel laureates are currently members of the Stanford community.

Beyond degrees, Stanford Continuing Studies offers about 500 courses a year, open to adult learners everywhere, and there is a Summer Session. These do not count as undergraduate admission.

Admission for international students

The application requirements are the same for every applicant, whatever their citizenship. Key points from the admission office:

• The ACT or SAT is required
• No English exam is required, but fluency in English is a prerequisite; scores can be self-reported
• Marks do not need to be converted into an American GPA
• Transcripts and teacher recommendations must be translated into English, and applicants may not translate them themselves
• Students start only in the autumn; there is no winter or spring entry
• There are no exchange programmes for undergraduates

Admission is very selective: in autumn 2024, Stanford received 57,326 applications and admitted 4%, according to College Navigator. The application fee for 2024-25 was $90. After admission, international students receive the Form I-20 for the F student visa from the university, and the Bechtel International Center supports international students and families.

Costs and financial aid

College Navigator gives these 2024-25 figures for a first-year undergraduate: $65,910 in tuition and fees and $21,315 for food and housing on campus, about $92,892 in total.

Stanford meets the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students, regardless of citizenship, and almost half of its undergraduates receive need-based aid. For international applicants, however, a request for aid is a factor in the admission decision, which makes the process more selective. The university offers no merit scholarships apart from a limited number of athletic scholarships. The no-tuition rule for family incomes below $150,000 applies to domestic students.

Practical tips

• Decide before applying whether you will request financial aid: international students who say no cannot apply for aid later in their four years
• Arrange official translations of your documents early
• The free Marguerite shuttle links the campus with the Palo Alto Transit Center and is open to the public
• International students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year, according to EducationUSA

Frequently asked questions

Does Stanford require TOEFL or IELTS?

No. Stanford does not require an English proficiency exam, but fluency in English is a prerequisite for admission, and applicants may self-report scores.

Can international students get financial aid at Stanford?

Yes. Stanford meets the full demonstrated need of all admitted students regardless of citizenship, but for international applicants a request for aid is considered in the admission decision.

How much does a year at Stanford cost?

For 2024-25, College Navigator estimates about $92,892 for a first-year undergraduate living on campus, including $65,910 in tuition and fees.

Can I study at Stanford for one semester as an exchange student?

No. Stanford has no exchange programmes for undergraduates. The alternatives are transferring, a graduate programme, Continuing Studies or the Summer Session.