[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]
How hard is Stanford University to get into?
This page provides the latest information on Stanford University (Stanford)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. Stanford's acceptance rate is 3.61% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 57,326 students applied and 2,067 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is very low, which means it is very hard to get into Stanford.
To apply to Stanford, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered.
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2024-25, Stanford's acceptance rate is 3.61% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 81.91%. 29,602 men and 27,724 women applied to Stanford and 1,015 men and 1,052 women students were accepted.
Among them, 835 men and 858 women were enrolled in Stanford. You can explore the Stanford's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.
Median SAT and ACT Score
For the academic year 2025, 857 students (51% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 324 students (19% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at Stanford.
The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,550, including 760 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 790 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 780 and the 25th percentile is 740. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 800 and the 25th percentile is 770.
The median ACT composite score is 35, with a 75th percentile score of 35 and a 25th percentile score of 34 at Stanford. The median ACT Math score is 35 and the median ACT English score is 35.
How competitive is Stanford's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at Stanford University are relatively high compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,497, ACT: 34 - private (not-for-profit) research university with very high research activity).
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School Record (or Transcript), Recommendations, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at Stanford. The english proficiency test is not required, but considered.
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Stanford University.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The following provides general admission information for applying to Stanford:
- Open Admission Policy: No
- Undergraduate Application Fees: -
- Graduate Application Fees: -
- Admission Information: admission.stanford.edu/
- Online Application: commonapp.org/
- Calendar System: Quarter
- Course for High School Students: Not Offered
- Credits Accepted: Advanced placement (AP) Credits
- Degree Offered: Bachelor, Master, Post-Master Certificate, Doctoral (Research), Doctoral (Professional Practice)
Stanford Admission Frequently Asked Questions
Stanford is extremely competitive to get into, with an acceptance rate of 3.61%.
Stanford recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to Stanford is 1,550, and the average ACT score is 35. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, Stanford requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
Yes, Stanford requires applicants to submit a recommendation letter as part of the application.
Stanford does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, Stanford requires applicants to submit high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Stanford recommends submitting an English proficiency test for international applicants, but it is not strictly required.
The institutional SAT code for Stanford is 4704 and 4-digit ACT code is 0434.