Stanford University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Stanford's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
Stanford acceptance rate by year
2,302 of 60,646 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 3.6% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 60,646 | 2,302 | 3.8% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 57,326 | 2,067 | 3.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 53,733 | 2,099 | 3.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 56,378 | 2,075 | 3.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 55,471 | 2,190 | 4.0% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 45,227 | 2,349 | 5.2% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 47,498 | 2,062 | 4.3% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 47,452 | 2,071 | 4.4% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 44,073 | 2,085 | 4.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 43,997 | 2,118 | 4.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 42,497 | 2,140 | 5.0% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
Stanford deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App. Checked October 24, 2026 on Stanford's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Restrictive early action Apply by Decisions By mid-December
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions By early April
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at Stanford
Stanford offers restrictive early action for 2026–27. It does not publish separate early admit rates in its Common Data Set.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at Stanford
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
- 4.073.0%
- 3.75–3.9916.2%
- 3.50–3.747.9%
- 3.25–3.492.9%
- 3.00–3.240.1%
- 2.50–2.990.0%
What counts
What Stanford weighs
From section C7 of Stanford's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- Class rank
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
Considered
- Interview
- First-generation status
- Alumni relation
- Where you live
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not considered
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
- Demonstrated interest
Waitlist
Stanford waitlist
669 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 573 accepted it, and 57 were admitted from it (9.9% of those who stayed on).
Cost
What Stanford costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Stanford's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to Stanford's 3.8%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about Stanford admissions
What is Stanford's acceptance rate?
Stanford admitted 2,302 of 60,646 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 3.8%. That is up from 3.6% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is Stanford test-optional for 2026–27?
No. Stanford requires the SAT or ACT from first-year applicants for 2026–27.
When are Stanford's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Restrictive early action: November 1, 2026; Regular decision: January 5, 2027. Check Stanford's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for Stanford?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1520–1570 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 55.57% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1570 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- Stanford first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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