Study Cost at Stanford University, faculties of Stanford, Entry Requirements for Stanford, admission process, application deadlines and other facts about university.
Stanford University (SU) is one of the most famous education and research centers of the world, one of the most advanced universities in the field of high technology and IT. Many Stanford graduates founded their own commercial projects which today bring billions of profits.
LocationStanford, United States
Establishment year1885
Students15,953
International students3,538
Female students46%
Acceptance rate5%
Place in ratings
Rating QS2024#5
Rating in the USA2021#2
Rating THE2023#4
By subject
Subject
Place in QS 2023
Engineering & Technology
2
Social Sciences & Management
3
Accounting & Finance
3
Anatomy & Physiology
3
Arts & Humanities
4
Natural Sciences
4
Life Sciences & Medicine
5
Study Cost at Stanford University
.
Minimum
On average
Studying
0 USD
48,927 USD
Hall of residence
0 USD
18,606 USD
Food
0 USD
7,940 USD
Personal expenses
3,000 USD
5,520 USD
Transportation
1,760 USD
1,760 USD
Studying materials
2,040 USD
2,040 USD
Medical contribution on campus
868 USD
868 USD
Medical insurance
5,208 USD
5,208 USD
Total
12,876 USD
85,661 USD
Study Cost of Doing a Master’s Course at Stanford University
.
Minimum
On average
Studying
0 USD
48,927 USD
Hall of residence
0 USD
18,606 USD
Food
0 USD
7,940 USD
Personal expenses
3,000 USD
5,520 USD
Transportation
1,760 USD
1,760 USD
Studying materials
2,040 USD
2,040 USD
Medical contribution on campus
868 USD
868 USD
Medical insurance
5,208 USD
5,208 USD
Total
12,876 USD
85,661 USD
History of Stanford University
Stanford University was founded in 1885 by a former governor of California and an entrepreneur Leland Stanford. The businessman moved to the West during the Gold Rush and made his fortune as a railroad tycoon. The university was founded and named in honor of Leland Stanford Jr., who died suddenly from typhus at the age of 15 in 1884. A few weeks after Leland's death, Mr. Stanford told his wife Jane that he wanted to immortalize their son's name, and from that moment ‘the children of California shall be our children’. The university campus project was designed by an architect and designer Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Central Park and Prospect Park in New York city.
The first academic year began on October 1, 1891. Since the first days of lectures, men and women studying together has been introduced here which for that time has become quite a bold and progressive step. The University withstood the earthquake in 1906 but with serious losses: most of the campus was destroyed. The university has often experienced financial difficulties.
In the 1930s, a professor Frederick Terman encouraged his students and graduates to try their hand at so-called educational enterprises. Many of them founded their own companies next to the university, and so the foundation of Silicon Valley was laid — a huge region where the largest IT companies are located.
Infrastructure and Location of Stanford University
Stanford University is located in Palo Alto, a small town, in the heart of famous Silicon Valley. It takes half an hour to get there from San Francisco (California, USA). The university campus, as well as laboratories and other buildings of the university, are located on 8180 acres (more than 33 km²) of land. There are more than seven hundred buildings at the disposal of Stanford University, and the university classrooms are equipped with the cutting-edge technology.
There are 18 independent laboratories, scientific centers and institutes on the Stanford campus, and 20 libraries are available for students practically during 24 hours. Not far from the university campus are several hospitals and clinics, there is also a church, a shopping center (which has 140 boutiques and shops) and even an art gallery on its territory.
School of Medicine. According to the QS rating, it is constantly one of the most powerful schools of medicine in the world, on the basis of which several medical institutions (Lucile's Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford Hospital), where future specialists get practical experience, work.
Law School. The school exists almost from the very foundation of the university. It offers education in 21 specializations (from state law to business and biotechnology). Stanford University is one of the top ten universities in the world in law teaching, and in the USA the university is second only to Harvard and Yale Universities in this field.
School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. Despite the fact that this school was formed only by the middle of the 20 century, the study of environmental sciences is top rank in Stanford. Here the problems of saving the planet's energy resources, climate change, natural disasters are being studied. The school cooperates with the San Andreas Fault Observatory.
School of Humanities and Sciences. The school offers training in 50 separate fields: from languages and literature to sociology and physics. More than 75% of undergraduate students study at the faculty. The teaching of the natural sciences at Stanford University is considered to be one of the most high-rated in the world.
Graduate School of Education. The school prepares a new generation of teachers for teaching at secondary schools and universities.
School of Engineering is the most powerful faculty in academic terms. It has 84 laboratories at its disposal, where students have the opportunity to work on their scientific projects.
Graduate School of Business. The school allows to do a master's degree in management and business administration. The MBA diploma of the Stanford University School of Business will be an excellent foundation for a successful career in entrepreneurship. The Stanford School of Business is included in the "Magnificent Seven" of the USA business schools and is constantly listed in the top 10 world rankings. Graduate School of Business also offers post-graduate courses where more than a hundred talented students study.
Stanford University uses a unique for the USA quarter system of education — in the majority of other American universities students study in accordance with semester division, so the exams dates and the beginning of academic year at Stanford are different from all other universities. The summer quarter is short and students do not need to fill it with courses, but during the summer, you can quickly earn the necessary credits and be ready in advance for the thesis or term paper presentation.
Quarter
Dates
Autumn
24 Sept. — 14 Dec.
Winter
7 Jan. — 22 Mar.
Spring
1 Apr. — 12 June
Summer
24 June — 17 Aug.
Top 5 Bachelor's Degrees Courses at Stanford University
Computer science
Human biology
Engineering science
Mechanical engineering
Science, technology and society
Scientific Achievements of Stanford University
Stanford University has more than 5000 research and scientific projects sponsored by investors and patrons of art.
In 2,013-2,014 USD1.35 billion was allocated for university projects. Most of the projects are funded by the Federal Government.
In 2013, a carbon nanotube computer was created here.
Stanford University researchers created four "artificial synapses" based on a silicon chip.
University specialists are working on a new generation of lithium-ion batteries.
The University created self-cooling solar panels.
Stanford University is developing promising developments in the use of stem cells.
Stanford medical students take part in an interesting experiment: since 2014 they have been using Google Glasses during surgeries.
In 1971, a famous Stanford prison experiment was performed at the faculty of psychology. A psychologist Philip Zimbardo simulated prison conditions at SU and investigated how an ordinary person reacts to a complete restriction of freedom.
Stanford University is located in famous Silicon Valley. It appeared around the university not by accident: the university graduates took an active part in the creation of such IT companies as Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Yahoo!, NVIDIA, eBay, CISCO, Electronic Arts and Google.
Stanford houses famous Cantor Center for Visual Arts with 24 galleries, sculptural gardens and terraces.
At SU works National Accelerator Laboratory SLAC with a two-mile underground accelerator. It is the longest linear accelerator in the world. The first web page in the USA was created in the SLAC laboratory.
Stanford University's target capital is 21 USD.4 billion (as of August 31, 2014), which allows the university to provide financial support to its students.
Stanford University has 625 groups divided according to the interests of students, including 14 religious communities.
Students move around the university by bicycles. Stanford has its own bike park which has more than 13000 bicycles.
Stanford University is known for the fact that the curriculum in the university is developed individually for each student. The ratio of the number of students and teachers at the university is five to one.
More than 50 Stanford teachers are Nobel Prize winners.
90% of Stanford University graduates successfully find work during the first few months, and their salary is considered to be the highest if compared with other prestigious universities in the United States.
Every year Stanford University conducts more than 200 conferences and seminars where university students take part.
Deadline for Applications Submission at Stanford University
.
Restrictive Early Action
Regular Decision
Examinations
March — May
March — May
Deadline
1 November
2 January
Commission decision
8 December
30 March
Student's decision
1 May
1 May
Course selection
1 August
1 August
Classes start
28 Aug. — 15 Sept.
28 Aug. — 15 Sept.
If an applicant enters a creative course, it is necessary to prepare an appropriate portfolio and submit documents a month before the deadlines of all other fields.
Scholarships and Grants at Stanford University
More than 80% of Stanford students receive financial aid, 58% of them are financed from the university fund, other students are given support by private organisations. Foreign students do not have the opportunity to receive financial aid directly from the university — this is done by outside organizations. Consequently, the amount of aid for foreign students may be lower than for the USA citizens because most of the help to American students is provided by the university (an average scholarship is 51,614 USD). And these organizations give undergraduate students support only in case if the application for financial aid was filled in when they submitted documents to Stanford University.
Family income
Scholarship
Average study cost
< 65,000 USD / year
68,097 USD
4,832 USD
100,000 USD / year
52,295 USD
16,039 USD
200,000 USD / year
26,481 USD
41,911 USD
Financial aid is also offered to foreign students of master's and PhD programs who study engineering, environmental disciplines, space sciences and related disciplines. There are programs for future engineers DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship, Ford Fellowship, Fulbright-Hays and many others at Stanford University. The scholarships range from 10,000 USD to 38,000 USD.
There is one of NASA's research laboratories in Stanford, and the organization could not refuse to provide financial aid to university students. The scholarship is called NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships. The program is aimed at supporting postgraduate students conducting research in the field of space development. The maximum scholarship is 78,000 USD.
Stanford University also provides scholarships for students who study the humanities and who in the future wish to devote their lives to teaching (at schools or universities). The scholarship ranges from 4,000 USD to 8,000 USD for 9 months of study.
In addition, Stanford University has grants from the Graduate Student Aid fund. Assistance is offered to PhD students who are in a difficult financial situation (high costs for treatment, dental services) and cannot solve their financial problems on their own. The amount of the grant depends on a particular situation and is discussed with each student individually.
Additional Opportunities — Studying at the Double Degree Program at Stanford University
Students at Stanford University have a unique chance to become holders of two diplomas in different fields. Most often this opportunity is used by students of MBA programs, combining the chosen field with an engineering or economic specialty (for example, for a couple of years you can get an MBA and a master's degree in computer science, environmental safety or international politics and law). You can study for the second specialty both at the university itself and at partner universities which Stanford University has signed cooperation agreements with. Postgraduate students have the opportunity to obtain the Ivy League Universities degrees at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Medical School, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, Yale Law School and the Yale School of Medicine.
Stanford University, like any other prestigious university, is interested in attracting the most talented and intellectually advanced students, so when considering applications, the admission committee does not take into account the solvency of an applicant. Moreover, the university allocates considerable funds for financing talented students who would like to study at Stanford University, but do not have such an opportunity since the cost of an annual program ranges from 30,000 USD to 60,000 USD (depending on the field of study).
Students whose families have income of less than 125,000 USD per year can claim aid from the university. In this case, students are exempt from tuition fees. If the family income is less than 65,000 USD per year, a student does not pay tuition fee, dormitory accommodation and meals in student canteens located on campus.
In any case, a student will have to pay some amount of money starting from 5,000 USD even if the university fully covers the studying costs. You can earn money on the campus (for example, a student can assist a teacher or help in a laboratory or library) or work during the summer vacation to get this sum of money back.
Living in Stanford University Hall of Residence
11.5 thousand of Stanford University students live in 77 halls of residence on campus. Some buildings are multi-storey constructions, others are one-family houses. In addition, the university has women's and men's communities which also occupy separate halls of residence. Most of the buildings are located outside the central part of the campus, the halls of residence are located in such a way that it takes no more than 10 minutes to arrive at classes. The campus is home to about half of all master's students.
The cost of living in a single apartment is about 350 USD per month. The rooms in almost all halls of residence are standard, furnished with a desk, bed, wardrobe, a pair of chairs, a reading lamp and bookshelves. Toilet, shower and kitchen are shared with other students. There are rooms for rest and studying in the buildings, where students can have fun together with their fellow students.
Famous Graduates and Professors of Stanford University
Sergey Brin is a well-known scientist, specialist in the field of information and computer technology, an entrepreneur, one of the developers of the Google search system. He got a master’s degree in engineering at Stanford University.
Philip Knight is a former student of Stanford University, a couple of years after getting the MBA degree he founded the company Nike which produces sportswear.
Mukesh Ambani is a businessman and philanthropist from India, the owner and one of the shareholders of Reliance. The fortune of the entrepreneur is estimated at 32 USD billion. He studied for an MBA, but did not finish the program.
Bertrand Meyer graduated from the computer technology department at Stanford University, is the creator the Eiffel programming language.
John Kennedy — the 35th President of the United States, studied on the MBA program until 1942.
Interesting Facts about Stanford University
Stanford University students celebrate Halloween in the crypt — a Stanford University family mausoleum.
Another interesting tradition which students follow from year to year — Full Moon on the Quad. At night when the full moon appears, the seniors exchange kisses with the freshmen.
Sometimes on Stanford University campus very loud screams can be heard: students call it Primal scream. Usually students scream during the so-called ‘dead week’ (days before the exams). Every midnight during seven days students open windows in their residences and scream relieving stress. During the ‘dead week’ teachers organize a ‘night breakfast’ for students. This is also a tradition.
In the 1920s, the study cost at Stanford University was about 120 USD per year.
The very first master programs on the West Coast were opened exactly at Stanford University.
The Process of Entrance to Stanford University
Many people want to study at Stanford University, but only a few of them enter it because it is one of the most selective and demanding US universities. Admission to Stanford University involves participation in a stiff competitive selection based on the academic performance of an entrant, his/her personal qualities and achievements. If a future student has leadership qualities, the desire to change the world and to contribute to the development of science, it plays a primary role in the final decision of the admission committee.
At Stanford University, first of all, applicants with high ACT or SAT exam tests scores, excellent knowledge of the English language confirmed by the American TOEFL certificate and a high average score of the diploma or certificate of general secondary education are considered. In addition to meeting standard requirements, the Stanford University admission committee expects an applicant to write an essay or a Statement of Purpose in English where a future student needs to demonstrate his/her goals and the experience he/she has gained during the years of studying or work.
A university entrant should have a clear idea of what he/she wants to do in the future and what benefits he/she can bring other people (especially it concerns entrants who apply for postgraduate degree courses). Since Stanford is imbued with the entrepreneurship spirit here the admission committee likes to read motivation letters with original ideas.
At Stanford University, special attention is paid to the personal qualities of a future student, so another equally important point is the availability of academic recommendations (at least three) written by the entrant's teachers (for undergraduates) or professors (it concerns postgraduates). If an applicant enters Stanford University to do an MBA program, he/she needs to provide recommendations from his/her employer or teacher.
The final stage of the entrance campaign is a personal interview. Basically Stanford professors prefer to interview future postgraduate students, asking questions not only about the chosen field of study, but also more general questions to determine the intellectual potential of an applicant and the level of his/her interest in studying.
The admission committee will not consider an applicant if the documents sent by him/her are not in order, i.e. they are incorrectly filled in, have grammatical or lexical errors. Therefore, first of all, it is important to prepare papers in accordance with the requirements and standards set by Stanford University. Even the smallest mistake can cost an applicant a place in a prestigious university.
Each applicant who wants to study abroad makes a decision on his/her own — to enter the university on his/her own, collecting the necessary papers, or to trust the specialists. If you are not completely sure that you will be able to overcome all the difficulties of the entrance campaign on your own, we are ready to offer you our professional help:
We will help to collect the necessary package of documents for admission to Stanford University
We will increase your chances of obtaining funding from the university or a private foundation
We will help to speed up the process of obtaining a student visa and reduce the risks of failure because of formal errors
You can devote the time saved to studying, preparing for exams or moving abroad
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