Overview

• Stanford University is a private coeducational institution of higher learning located in Stanford, California, adjacent to Palo Alto — one of the most prestigious universities in the country.  It was founded in 1885 by Leland Stanford, former Governor of California and railroad magnate, along with his wife Jane Lathrop Stanford, in memory of their only child who passed away at the age of 15. 
• Stanford University today comprises seven schools and 15 interdisciplinary institutes with more than 17,000 students, 2,300 faculty, and 2,400 postdoctoral scholars. It is an international institution, enrolling students from all 50 U.S. states and 91 other countries. 
• The university is organized around seven schools of study on an 8,180-acre campus, one of the largest in the nation.  Famously nicknamed "The Farm" — a nod to the founders' original Palo Alto stock farm — Stanford's iconic red-tiled roofs and sandstone architecture are instantly recognizable worldwide.
• Engineering Professor Frederick Terman, widely dubbed the "Father of Silicon Valley," encouraged Stanford students not only to develop but also to commercialize their ideas.  This entrepreneurial spirit lives on today — companies founded by Stanford alumni, including Google, Hewlett-Packard, Nike, Sun Microsystems, and Yahoo, generate more than $2.7 trillion in annual revenue. 
• Stanford-affiliated athletes surpassed those from all other universities at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with 59 participants securing a total of 39 medals. Stanford is home to more than 120 research institutes. 

Intakes

Students enroll and begin classes in the Fall. Stanford does not offer Winter or Spring Quarter enrollment for undergraduate international students. For graduate programs, most schools follow the same Fall-only pattern, though a limited number of programs may differ.

• Fall Intake (September/October) — Primary intake; open to all programs
• Winter Intake (January) — Available for select graduate programs only
• Spring Intake (April) — Available for select graduate programs only

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. Students are encouraged to confirm intake availability directly with their chosen Stanford school or department.

Top Courses

Stanford offers about 150 graduate fields of study and 66 major fields of undergraduate study.  The university's seven schools cover an extraordinary breadth of disciplines:

• Stanford School of Engineering — Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Bioengineering, AI & Data Science
• Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) — MBA, MSx Program, PhD
• Stanford Law School — JD, LLM, JSM, SJD
• Stanford School of Medicine — MD, MS in Biomedical Informatics, PhD in Medical Sciences
• Stanford School of Humanities & Sciences — Economics, Mathematics, Psychology, Physics, Statistics
• Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability — MS in Sustainability, Environment & Resources
• Stanford Graduate School of Education — MA, PhD in Education

Some of the most popular programs for international students include MS in Computer Science, MS in Data Science, MBA, MS in Electrical Engineering, MS in Management Science & Engineering, and MS in Statistics.

Cost of Studying at Stanford University

For the 2024–25 academic year, undergraduate tuition at Stanford University is $62,484 per year. Additional annual fees include a student activity fee of $2,205, room and board of around $20,286, and estimated personal, book, and travel expenses of $3,000–$6,000.

For graduate programs, tuition varies by field, with costs ranging between $54,000 and $65,000 per year. International students must also purchase Cardinal Care health insurance, which costs approximately $7,000 annually. 

Note: Fees vary by program and school. Please refer to Stanford's official website for the most current fee structure.

Scholarships

Stanford is committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students, regardless of citizenship. Financial aid at Stanford is entirely need-based, and the university does not offer merit scholarships outside of a limited number of athletic scholarships. 

Stanford offers free tuition for undergraduate students whose annual family income is below $150,000, and covers both tuition and room & board for families earning below $100,000 — applicable to both domestic and international students. 

Key funding opportunities for international students include:

• Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program — Fully funded scholarship for graduate students from any country; covers tuition, living expenses, and an annual travel stipend. The program expects roughly two-thirds of its scholars to come from countries outside the United States. 
• Stanford Need-Based Financial Aid — Full or partial tuition coverage for undergraduates with demonstrated need; no repayment required
• Research & Teaching Assistantships — Open to international Master's and PhD students; covers full tuition waiver and a monthly living stipend.
• Stanford Graduate Fellowships in Science & Engineering — Available to outstanding STEM Master's and PhD students; covers full tuition, living stipend, and research funds .
• Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship — Specifically available to Indian students pursuing graduate studies
• External scholarships — Fulbright-Nehru, Inlaks Foundation, Tata Trusts, and Chevening are among the scholarships accepted at Stanford

Students are strongly advised to request financial aid consideration at the time of application, as this option cannot be added later.

Admissions

Stanford University's acceptance rate for 2024–25 was just 3.61% — the lowest in the university's history — making it one of the most selective institutions in the world.

Stanford follows a holistic admissions process, evaluating applicants on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership potential, personal essays, and letters of recommendation.

For Graduate Programs:

For international applicants, a GPA between 3.7 and 3.9 (93–99%) is recommended to strengthen the application. Graduate students seeking admission must have a GPA of 3.5 or above.

• A recognized Bachelor's degree (equivalent to a US undergraduate degree)
• Competitive GPA (3.5 and above; 3.7–4.0 recommended for Indian applicants)
• GRE / GMAT scores (as required by the program)
• TOEFL iBT: 100+ / IELTS: 7.0+ (for non-native English speakers)
• 2–3 Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose / Personal Essays
• Transcripts from all prior institutions

For Undergraduate Programs:

• Strong academic record (90–95% or equivalent in Class 12)
• SAT / ACT scores (optional for some cycles)
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• Stanford-specific application essays

Indian students can check detailed admission requirements for their chosen Stanford program through Polygon Campus.

Placements

Stanford's location in the heart of Silicon Valley gives it a distinct advantage — graduates have unmatched access to the world's most influential technology companies, venture capital firms, and startups right on their doorstep.

For the MBA Class of 2025, 90% of job-seeking graduates secured offers within three months of graduation, with Technology, Finance, and Consulting as the top three sectors. There was a notable surge in enterprise technology roles, particularly in AI-related organizations.

The average starting salary for the MBA Class of 2024 was $187,504, with a median of $185,000. Finance roles commanded the highest salaries, with a median of $200,000. Additionally, 49% of graduates reported signing bonuses with a median value of $30,000. 

Six years after graduation, the median salary for Stanford graduates across all programs is $102,887.

Jobs After Graduating from Stanford University

Note: Salary figures are indicative and may vary based on industry, role, and employer.

Stanford's career support ecosystem includes:

• Career Management Center (CMC) — Personalized career advising, employer connections, and recruitment support
• Stanford Alumni Network — One of the world's most powerful professional networks, spanning 91 countries
• On-Campus Recruiting — Direct access to top global employers including Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and more
• Entrepreneurship Ecosystem — Access to the Stanford StartX accelerator, Silicon Valley investor networks, and search fund opportunities
• OPT & STEM OPT — International graduates can work in the US for up to 12–36 months post-graduation

For personalized guidance on Stanford University admissions, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.