Graduates of Stanford University earn median earnings of $136,959 four years after enrollment, placing Stanford University in the 99.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $40,889 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Stanford University in the 99.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Stanford University #3 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The degree mix at Stanford University is anchored by Social Sciences, which accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 15% and other STEM fields at 4%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #6 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment per the program-ranking methodology, with 277 graduates earning median earnings of $214,907 — 2.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Human Biology program graduates 114 students with median earnings of $81,529, and Azimuth ranks Economics #52 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 108 graduates earning median earnings of $112,700. Engineering, Other adds further depth, with 91 graduates earning median earnings of $115,206 — 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.
Graduates of Stanford University earn median earnings of $136,959 four years after enrollment, placing Stanford University in the 99.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $40,889 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Stanford University in the 99.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Stanford University #3 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The degree mix at Stanford University is anchored by Social Sciences, which accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 15% and other STEM fields at 4%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #6 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment per the program-ranking methodology, with 277 graduates earning median earnings of $214,907 — 2.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Human Biology program graduates 114 students with median earnings of $81,529, and Azimuth ranks Economics #52 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 108 graduates earning median earnings of $112,700. Engineering, Other adds further depth, with 91 graduates earning median earnings of $115,206 — 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of Stanford University earn median earnings of $136,959 four years after enrollment, placing Stanford University in the 99.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $40,889 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Stanford University in the 99.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Stanford University #3 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The degree mix at Stanford University is anchored by Social Sciences, which accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 15% and other STEM fields at 4%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #6 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment per the program-ranking methodology, with 277 graduates earning median earnings of $214,907 — 2.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Human Biology program graduates 114 students with median earnings of $81,529, and Azimuth ranks Economics #52 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 108 graduates earning median earnings of $112,700. Engineering, Other adds further depth, with 91 graduates earning median earnings of $115,206 — 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Stanford University's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, which accounts for 17% of degree output — a concentration more typical of research-intensive private universities like Harvard and Yale than of engineering-focused peers like MIT or Caltech. Engineering represents 15% of graduates and other STEM fields accounts for 4%, rounding out a portfolio that balances quantitative depth with broad analytical training. Computer Science is the largest program with 277 graduates, followed by Human Biology (114 graduates), Economics (108 graduates), and Engineering, Other (91 graduates). Across 40 programs serving roughly 1,687 students annually, 10 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The rankings pattern is concentrated at the top of the national distribution. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #6 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 277 graduates earning $214,907. Azimuth ranks Cognitive Science #4 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $131,650, and Azimuth ranks Engineering, Other #1 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 91 graduates earning $115,206. Computer Science — the largest program — carries a national rank of #6 with median earnings of $214,907, combining scale and strong pay in a way that drives much of the institution's aggregate return. Several of these programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory. Political Science and Economics send meaningful shares of graduates to medical school, law school, or doctoral programs, meaning early-career earnings reflect only a fraction of long-run outcomes. Computer Science and Cognitive Science, by contrast, are high-mobility programs where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect national labor-market demand. The provides context for how these fields align with broader wage trends. ```
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of Stanford University earn median earnings of $136,959 four years after enrollment, placing Stanford University in the 99.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $40,889 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Stanford University in the 99.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Stanford University #3 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The degree mix at Stanford University is anchored by Social Sciences, which accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 15% and other STEM fields at 4%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #6 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment per the program-ranking methodology, with 277 graduates earning median earnings of $214,907 — 2.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Human Biology program graduates 114 students with median earnings of $81,529, and Azimuth ranks Economics #52 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 108 graduates earning median earnings of $112,700. Engineering, Other adds further depth, with 91 graduates earning median earnings of $115,206 — 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.
