Stanford University: Ranking, Admission and Courses 

Last Updated on August 29, 2024

Established in 1885, Stanford University is a top-ranked private research university in the United States. With over 30 programs, it ranks fifth globally in QS World University Rankings 2024.  The university is famous among international students, with 8% of undergraduate and 30% of graduate students from different countries. The acceptance rate in 2024 is 5%, indicating a highly selective admission policy.

Admission occurs in Fall and Spring intakes, with an average combined score of 85% or more required. During the 2024-25 admission round, initial-year candidates will not need ACT or SAT scores. Stanford University is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, with 96% of students receiving job offers within three months. 

The yearly average pay for Stanford graduates is around $115,000 (95.44 lakhs). Alumni of Stanford include founders and CEOs of companies like LinkedIn, Hewlett-Packard, and Sun Microsystems. 

Stanford University Ranking 2024

Stanford University, long considered one of the top five universities in the world, does not fit into the category of an ‘Ivy League in the USA’. It actually has better rankings than most Ivy Leagues.

US News and World Report states that Stanford University is in the 3rd place among National Universities and holds rank 4 for Best Value Schools. The yearly trends of Stanford University’s ranking are shown in the table below: 

Institute Ranking	2022	2023	2024	2025
World university ranking	4	3	2	–
QS ranking	3	3	3	6
The U.S. News and World Report	3	3	–	–
CWUR	3	3	3	–

Stanford University Courses 2024

Stanford University: 7 academic schools with diverse educational programs at different levels. 200+ graduate courses from Stanford University available in 90+ subject areas. The student enrollments show that engineering is a popular choice for students studying at Stanford. During the last academic year, almost 40% of graduate students who joined the school were enrolled in engineering.

Stanford University promotes personal interaction between students and faculty members, with an estimated ratio of 5:1 for students to faculty. Some of the top Stanford University courses and their fees in Rs are as follows:

Stanford Top post-graduation courses and their annual fees :

Name of the Courses	Annual fee in Rs
Master of Business Administration [M.B.A],	₹ 7593912
Business Master of Science [M.S.]	₹ 12836216
Master of Science [M.S.]	₹ 3349886
Design Impact	₹ 3560508
Management Science and EngineeringComputer Science	₹ 3349886
Electrical Engineering Master of Science [M.S.]	₹ 3560508
Aeronautics and Astronautics Master of Science [M.S.]	₹ 3349886
Master of Science [M.S.], Computational and Mathematical Engineering	₹ 3560508

Stanford Top undergraduate courses and their annual fee:

NAME OF THE COURSE	ANNUAL FEE IN [ Rs ]
Computer Science Bachelor of Science [B.S.]	₹ 5453992
Engineering and Management Science Bachelor of Science [B.S.]	₹ 5453992
Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science [B.S.]	₹ 5453992
Architectural Design Bachelor of Science [B.S.]	₹ 5453992
Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Bachelor of Science [B.S.]	₹ 5453992
Electrical engineering bachelor’s degree [B.S.]	₹ 5453992
Computational Biology – Bachelor of Science [B.S], Biology	₹ 5453992
Neurobiology, Bachelor of Science [B.S.], Biology	₹ 5453992
Product Design Bachelor of Science [B.S.]	₹ 5453992
Psychology Bachelor of Arts [B.A.]	₹ 5453992

Admissions to Stanford University for 2024

With a few extra prerequisites, Stanford University’s admissions procedure for overseas students is comparable to domestic applicants. The prerequisites listed below are necessary to be admitted to Stanford University:

Criteria	For PG courses	For UG courses
Application fee:	125 USD or  10,405 INR	90 US dollars (7,492 Indian rupees)
Academic Score	3.5 GPA (90%)	3.2 (86%) GPA
TOEFL Score	89 (School of Engineering)100 (Humanities Social Sciences, Education)	>100
Admission Requirements	2 essay questions3 recommendationsResumeinterview	Q&A (50 words each) 3 essays (100–250 words) 2 teacher recommendation letters a counsellor’s recommendation optional interview
Standardised Testing	GRE (161 Quant) GMAT 650+	SAT score: 1505 Average ACT score: 34

Stanford University Campus

The campus of Stanford University, located in the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula, is spread over 8,180 acres. This university campus holds a prestigious position as one of the largest single-campus colleges within the United States, with its seven distinct schools and eighteen different research institutes that it houses on-site.

• The Stanford University campus has 630 buildings, 150 companies in the 700-acre Stanford Research Park, 140 retail stores at Stanford Shopping Center and many other elements.
• Campus traditions: Battle of Bay (football game), Cardinal Nights, The Wacky Walk and Fountain Hopping.
• For the people who travel to campus, there is a system of 23 routes with over 13,000 bikes and 67 buses plus 41 electric buses.
• The types of accommodation available at Stanford University are diverse. Students can choose from traditional dormitory-style living to apartments, houses, and co-ops.

Student Life of Indians at Stanford University

India has a strong presence at Stanford University, one of the most well-represented international student populations. Here are some groups from India that you might find interesting: 

1. Indian Students Association (ISA)

The Indian Students Association is a significant group at Stanford University. It consists of students from India or associated with Indian culture. The association organises various festivals to celebrate Diwali, Holi, and Navratri. 

The ISA also runs social gatherings, discussions and seminars about current topics in their country. 

2. Stanford Sikh Student Group

The Stanford Sikh Student Group is an organisation for students who follow the Sikh faith or want to learn more about it. They arrange activities like weekly prayers called “Sikh congregational” in Gurdwara Sahib San Jose and other events on campus. 

3. Women’s Chapter (ACM-W)

ACM-W is a student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery that promotes women’s involvement in computer science and technology. This group organises meetings with guest speakers, industry visits and educational workshops. These are just a few examples of student groups from India at Stanford University. Many more offer diverse activities reflecting the vibrant culture and interests of its students from this South Asian nation.

4. Stanford India Association (SIA)

This student-led group supports Indian culture and customs within the university. They organise activities such as Diwali festivities, Bollywood dance evenings, and discussions with well-known Indian speakers.

5. The IBA 

The India Business Association, also known as IBA, aims to support Indian students studying for a career in business and provides opportunities for professional growth and connections.

Stanford University Scholarships 2024

Stanford University mostly provides need-based financial aid to international students, including Indians. Almost 5,000 students get some sort of monetary assistance at Stanford, coming from both inside and outside sources.

66% of students receive financial aid to help reduce the total cost of attendance. Among the candidates, 48% receive need-based scholarships and grants, while 19% get Pell grants.

International students should have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security number (SSN) for Stanford University scholarships.

Placements at Stanford University

Stanford University offers students many helpful professional resources. For instance, there are university recruitment events where recruiting firms and businesses participate to aid fresh graduates in their professional advancement. This shows how Stanford graduates have highly sought-after skills in the business industry.

 Receiving a diploma from Stanford is the ultimate indication that you are prepared for employment. The highest-paying bachelor’s degree at university is in aeronautics and astronautics, with an average annual wage of 249,000 USD.

Many reports support Stanford’s employability rates. Stanford graduates are known to receive excellent bonuses in addition to a good package.

Some of the programs Stanford graduates entered into and the average salaries they received:

Programme	The average salary in USD
Management Science and Engineering:	$120,000
Computer Science	$110,000
Electrical Engineering	$105,000
Mechanical Engineering	$95,000.
Chemical Engineering	$90,000.
Civil and Environmental Engineering	$80,000.
Biomedical Computation (BMC)	$110,000.

Other post-graduate degrees and their average salary 

Degree	Average Salary INR
Executive MBA	1.66 crore
MBA	1.53 crore
Masters in Finance	1.47 crore
Executive Masters	1.13 crore
Bachelors of Science	1.14 crore

Intakes at Stanford University 

The University of Stanford operates on a quarter system, implying four intakes every year. Each academic session consists of three quarters, with an additional summer quarter if the student desires.

1. Fall intake: The fall quarter is the most essential and popular intake. It starts around the end of September, and most students come to Stanford for their studies this quarter.
2. Winter quarter: This quarter starts at the beginning of January. It’s a shorter quarter compared to autumn and spring, making it ideal for taking fewer classes or going on study abroad programs.
3. Spring quarter: It starts in the later parts of March. This quarter keeps everyone very occupied, with numerous classes and gatherings.
4. Summer quarter: The quarter of summer is not mandatory and starts at the end of June. This period is suitable for taking fewer classes or getting up to speed with your coursework.

The application process at Stanford University

Here are the steps to apply for admission to Stanford University:

1. Research and choose the program that best suits your academic interests.

2. Check the admission requirements and application deadlines for your chosen program.

3. Create an account on the Stanford University application portal.

4. Fill in the application form with your personal and academic details.

5. Pay the application fee.

6. Submit official TRN transcripts from all high schools and post-secondary institutions attended.

7. Submit standardised test scores (if required by your program).

8. Provide letters of recommendation from academic or p. professional references.

9. Write and submit your Statement of Purpose (if your program requires it. sm).

10. Finish submitting the other necessary papers, like showing your English skills if your first la. The language is not English.

11. Wait for the admission decision, which usually takes a few months.

12. c  If accepted, submit the required documents and fees to confirm enrollment.

Application Process at Stanford University 

Here are the steps to apply for admission to Stanford University:

1. Research and choose the program that best suits your academic interests.
2. Check the admission requirements and application deadlines for your chosen program.
3. Create an account on the Stanford University application portal.
4. Fill in the application form with your personal and academic details.
5. Pay the application fee.
6. Submit official transcripts from all high schools and post-secondary institutions attended.
7.  Submit standardised test scores (if required by your program).
8.  Provide letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
9. Write and submit your Statement of Purpose (if your program requires it).
10.  Give in other needed papers, like evidence of English capability if your first language isn’t English.
11.  Wait for the admission decision, which usually takes a few months.
12.  If accepted, submit the required documents and fees to confirm enrollment.

Note: The process of applying can be different based on the program or applicant’s background. It is recommended to visit Stanford University’s official website for the latest information about how to apply.

Conclusion 

Over 7,700 externally financed projects totalling 1.93 billion USD are funded by Stanford University’s several research initiatives. The institute is exceptional in every way—it ranks well, provides a substantial endowment for research, and develops professional leaders over many years. 

We hope this blog helps you with all your doubts about Stanford University. 

FAQs 

Does Stanford give full scholarships to international students?

Stanford University mainly offers a few need-based financial help options to students from other countries, including Indians. Almost 5,000 students get some kind of financial aid at Stanford, either inside or outside the university.

Does Stanford accept IELTS?

Yes. Stanford University requires an IELTS score for admissions.

Is Stanford better than Harvard?

Harvard and Stanford each have their strengths. While there might be small differences in rankings from various agencies, making a clear academic comparison between the universities is difficult. In contrast to Harvard, Stanford can be seen as a more modern and vibrant place of learning. It is situated in the centre of Silicon Valley, which gives it a distinct entrepreneurial atmosphere.