Stanford University

If you are thinking about applying to Stanford, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is January 2 and the application fee costs $90.

Students who apply to Stanford for the fall semester should hear back from Stanford by April 1.

Stanford Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of Stanford's admissions stats.

Stanford 2022	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	4.0
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	96%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	12.6%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	8.7%
Waitlist	Yes

Stanford University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Stanford University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	––	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 15
Regular Decision	Yes	January 15	April 1

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Considering Applying Early to Stanford?

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Stanford University may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with Stanford directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Stanford will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 15.

➡️ Discover a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Stanford University Admissions

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Transferring to Stanford University

It is extremely difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Stanford

Stanford has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Stanford Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Stanford

What does Stanford consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Class Rank	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Talent/Ability	Very Important
Standardized Test Scores	Very Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with Stanford for more information on admission factors.

Stanford Application Requirements

To apply to Stanford, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Stanford's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Transcript of High School Record	√

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Stanford?

Students admitted to Stanford have an average unweighted GPA of 4.0. At Stanford 96% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 100% were in the top 25%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Stanford University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	75.1%
3.75 and 3.99	19%
3.50 and 3.74	2.5%
3.25 and 3.49	1.6%
3.00 and 3.24	1.4%
2.50 and 2.9	0.3%
2.00 and 2.49	––

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Stanford directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Stanford considers ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.

Stanford has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 12.6% of Stanford's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 8.7% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Stanford?

To be competitive with other Stanford applicants, you should aim to score between 1470 and 1560 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Stanford 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1560 and 25% of scored lower than 1470, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Stanford students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 720 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Stanford students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 720 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Stanford?

To be most competitive at Stanford, you should strive to earn between 34 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Stanford's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 34 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Stanford students. Only one out of every four students scored below 34.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Stanford University

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Stanford.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15. Applicants should hear back by May 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Stanford during the following terms:

• Fall Term

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Stanford Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Stanford?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Stanford.

Does Stanford accept transfer credits?

✅ Stanford accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Stanford accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Stanford accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Stanford?

❌ No, Stanford is test optional, so you can make the call if you want to to include your test scores. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is Stanford's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Stanford is 4%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Stanford?

🟨 Stanford may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

Want To Learn More About Stanford?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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