Stanford, California · Detailed official profile · Information checked Aug 2026
Stanford University
Full need for admitted international students who request aid, with aid considered in evaluation.
At a glance
Start with the numbers—then investigate the story.
Annual cost of attendance
$87,833Calculated from official information · 2023-24 · U.S. Department of Education NCES/IPEDS. Previous-cycle on-campus estimate calculated from the official out-of-state tuition and fees, books, room and board, and other-expense components.International students receiving aid
26.8%This published share describes past awards; availability does not guarantee affordability.Average international award
$75,756An average is not a promise. Award amounts can differ substantially by student.Overall acceptance rate
3.906%Calculated from official information · 2023-24 · U.S. Department of Education NCES/IPEDS. Institution-wide context, never an estimate of your individual chance.International acceptance rate
Not published by the collegeNot published by the college · 2025–26 Common Data Set review. Stanford does not publish the citizenship-specific applicant and admit counts needed to calculate this rate.Ranking context
=2 global · QS 2027Universities show only their official QS 2027 global rank.Application plans and deadlines
Know which choices restrict you—and when each item is due.
Nonbinding, but Stanford restricts other private early applications; review the official exceptions before applying.
The standard nonbinding application round.
November 1
January 5
Application requirements
Testing, English proficiency, and scholarships
SAT / ACT
SAT or ACT required; self-reporting permitted; SAT and ACT superscoring used
- SAT composite
- Not listed
- Math middle 50%
- 770–800
- EBRW middle 50%
- 740–780
- SAT submitted
- 47%
Stanford requires SAT or ACT, accepts self-reported scores for review, verifies scores after enrollment, and superscores SAT sections and ACT results. The Class of 2029 submitted-score middle 50% was 1520–1570 SAT and 34–36 ACT.
Official testing policy ↗ · Checked Aug 2026
English proficiency
Reviewed test routes
- English proficiency exam
- Not required
Stanford does not require an English-proficiency exam or publish minimum scores. Applicants may self-report an English exam; fluency in English is required.
Official English-test guidance ↗ · Checked Aug 2026
Scholarships to check
1 named option
Stanford University Scholarship
Need-based grant up to demonstrated needHow to apply: Request financial aid when applying and complete the required international financial-aid forms
Eligibility: Demonstrated financial need; available to admitted international applicants who requested aid during admission
Important note: No separate application for named Stanford funds; awards are need-based rather than general merit awards.
Confirmed by an official source.Bangladesh applicant lens
What this information means
Treat affordability as a first filter
The listed price is high enough that a Bangladeshi applicant needing substantial support should confirm international need-based aid or named scholarships before investing heavily in the application.
Aid prevalence is not aid generosity
26.8% receiving aid shows how common an award was in the reported year, while the average award helps estimate scale. Neither figure explains your likely package or the current policy.
Selectivity needs context
A low overall rate means the college should be treated as highly uncertain for every applicant. It cannot be the only financial or academic route on your list.
Fall 2027 research checklist
Verify these before the college enters your final list.
- Affordability: net price for international students, need-based eligibility, merit awards, renewal conditions, and indirect costs.
- Application policy: Fall 2027 testing requirements, English-proficiency routes, application plans, fee waivers, and deadlines.
- Academic fit: intended major, curriculum flexibility, first-year support, research access, and any portfolio or prerequisite requirements.
- International support: housing, health insurance, airport arrival, visa-document timeline, campus employment, and advising.
Climate context
Annual average 14°C; January is typically the coldest month and August the warmest.
Campus safety
Review the college's official annual security report and compare definitions, campus size, and reporting years.
Open the federal campus-safety lookup ↗Official sources
Identity, overall admission counts, and available score ranges are checked against U.S. Department of Education information. Confirm changing application policies on the college's official pages.
See the original research note
Stanford University is a private institution located in Stanford, California. The campus setting is suburb: large and it is a L (10K-20K) size school. For financial aid, the total cost of attendance is approximately $91,225 per year, it operates on a Yes (aware) need policy, approximately 26% of international students receive financial aid with an average award of $75,756. Regarding admissions, its overall acceptance rate is 4%. An important note: -