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Rank #1

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private · Suburban · Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Source: Forbes America's Top Colleges 2024Updated: 1/15/2025Enrollment: 17,381Student-Faculty: 5:1

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Key Stats in Context

Acceptance Rate3.6%
Extremely selective

Strong grades and test scores are table stakes — most qualified applicants are turned away

Average SAT1,520
Exceptional

Near-perfect scores are common — testing is a strength of this student body

Average Net Price$17,000
Affordable

Reasonable cost that many families can manage with some planning

Median Earnings (10yr)$97,500
Exceptional

Among the highest earning graduates nationally — strong return on investment

Freshman Retention98.0%
Excellent

Nearly all students return — a sign that students are thriving

Graduation Rate95.0%
Excellent

Nearly everyone graduates — strong academic support and student commitment

Student-Faculty Ratio5:1
Very small classes

Exceptionally low ratio — expect close mentorship and personalized attention

Crime Rate (per 1,000)8.2
Above average

Higher than typical — worth reviewing specific incident types and campus safety resources

Median Debt at Graduation$12,500
Very manageable

Low debt burden — monthly payments will be very reasonable after graduation

Peer Comparison

Compared against similarly-ranked schools

Stanford University

#1
Acceptance3.6%
Net Price$17,000
Earnings (10y)$97,500
Graduation95.0%
Retention98.0%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#2
Acceptance3.8%
Net Price$19,998
Earnings (10y)$124,700
Graduation95.0%
Retention99.0%

University of California, Berkeley

#3
Acceptance11.0%
Net Price$18,400
Earnings (10y)$79,800
Graduation92.0%
Retention96.0%

Yale University

#4
Acceptance4.6%
Net Price$18,500
Earnings (10y)$89,500
Graduation97.0%
Retention98.0%

Program-Level Earnings & Debt

Median earnings and debt by field of study at this school

Computer Science$125,000$14,000
Engineering$110,000$13,000
Social Sciences$72,000$11,000
Biological Sciences$58,000$12,000
Mathematics$95,000$11,500
Physical Sciences$68,000$11,000
Psychology$55,000$12,500
Humanities$48,000$10,000
ProgramEarningsDebt

Admissions & Test Scores

Acceptance rate3.6%
Average SAT1,520
SAT Math (25th-75th)740–800
SAT Reading (25th-75th)720–780
ACT Midpoint35
Graduation rate95.0%
Freshman retention98.0%
Student-faculty ratio5:1

Cost & Financial Aid

In-state tuition$58,416
Out-of-state tuition$58,416
Cost of attendance$82,162
Average net price$17,000
Pell Grant recipients17.0%
Median debt at graduation$12,500
Federal loan rate13.0%
Loan default rate (3yr)0.4%

Outcomes & Earnings

Median earnings (10 years)$97,500
Enrollment17,381
Campus settingSuburban
Official sitewww.stanford.edu

Campus Safety

Total on-campus crimes142
Crime rate per 1,000 students8.2

Academic Programs

Computer Science21.0%
Engineering18.0%
Social Sciences10.0%
Biological Sciences8.0%
Mathematics6.0%
Physical Sciences5.0%
Psychology4.0%
Humanities3.0%

Student Demographics

Female46.0%
Part-time1.0%
White25.0%
Black7.0%
Hispanic18.0%
Asian24.0%