Stanford admits approximately 3.9% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 25 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Stanford among the most selective universities in the United States. The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Stanford's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private research universities, Stanford's acceptance rate falls at the lower end of the spectrum.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with perfect test scores and outstanding academic records—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would thrive at Stanford do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants. For this reason, students considering Stanford should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. Treating Stanford as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy. Students should expect that admission depends on factors beyond academic metrics alone, including unique contributions to the campus community.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Stanford's admitted students demonstrate exceptional academic preparation across standardized testing metrics. The middle 50% of enrolled students score between 1510 and 1580 on the SAT, with a median of 1553. SAT Math scores range from 770 to 800, while SAT Verbal scores span 740 to 780. These ranges place Stanford among institutions enrolling the highest-achieving students nationally.
ACT scores follow a similar pattern, with admitted students typically scoring between 34 and 35, reflecting consistent excellence across testing formats. Compared to a peer median SAT of 1256, Stanford enrolls students scoring 297 points higher on average. These academic credentials reflect the intense competition for admission places.
Students should understand that the 25th percentile represents enrolled students, not minimum requirements. Twenty-five percent of Stanford students scored below 1510 on the SAT, indicating that lower scores do not automatically disqualify applicants. However, students scoring below this range should expect to compensate with exceptional achievements in other areas. Those whose scores fall within or above the middle 50% range can consider themselves academically competitive, though admission depends on factors beyond test performance alone.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Stanford enrolls a selective but diverse student body that includes representation across economic backgrounds. The university enrolls 19.2% Pell-eligible students and 30.3% first-generation college students. While these shares are lower than at public flagships, they indicate that Stanford does admit students from diverse economic circumstances alongside those from more privileged backgrounds.
Transfer students comprise just 3.2% of enrolled students, reflecting limited transfer opportunities at the undergraduate level. This suggests that traditional freshman admission represents the primary pathway for Stanford enrollment. The combination of low transfer rates and selective freshman admission creates intense competition for available spots.
Given Stanford's 3.9% acceptance rate, most applicants—even highly qualified ones—will need backup options. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission, different geographic options, or better value.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
First-generation students should note that nearly one-third of enrolled students share their background, indicating institutional commitment to economic diversity despite selective admissions. Students from lower-income families should consider the 19.2% Pell share when assessing cultural fit and support systems. The student composition reflects Stanford's efforts to balance academic selectivity with socioeconomic diversity, though access remains limited compared to less selective institutions.
Stanford students demonstrate exceptional retention and completion outcomes once enrolled. Ninety-seven point eight percent of freshmen return for sophomore year, compared to a peer median of 83.1%, indicating strong student satisfaction and academic support. The six-year graduation rate reaches 92.8%, well above the peer median of 70.0%.
Pell-eligible students graduate at 87.6%, representing a 5.2 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. While this gap indicates some differential outcomes by income level, it remains relatively modest compared to many selective institutions. The gap suggests that lower-income students face additional challenges but still achieve strong completion rates.
Students who gain admission can expect robust institutional support for degree completion, as evidenced by retention and graduation rates that exceed national benchmarks significantly. The high retention rate indicates that Stanford successfully matches admitted students with appropriate academic and social environments. Prospective students should view these completion metrics as evidence of strong student support systems and institutional commitment to student success, though they should also recognize that some income-based achievement gaps persist even at highly selective institutions.
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