10-yr median earnings
$124,080
Federal aid recipients only
Private Nonprofit · Stanford, California
Stanford University
Stanford University is a private nonprofit institution in Stanford, California. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.
- $124,080
- 10-yr median earnings
- 3.6%
- Acceptance rate
- $13,807
- Avg net price / yr
- 92.4%
- 150%-time completion
The verdict
Stanford University pairs top-1% former-student earnings with a highly selective admit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 1%
- former-student earnings, US
- 3.6%
- acceptance rate
- 92.4%
- 150%-time completion
- +21%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Suburb: Large
Carnegie: R1
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Stanford University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
A
College Value Score
85/100
Stanford University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A+
$124,080
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price C+
$13,807
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate A+
92.4%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt C
$12,000
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
91.6%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention A+
98.2%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$13,807
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
92.4%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 92.4%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Stanford University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Stanford University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Stanford University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$124,080 Top 1% higher than all other reporting US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Stanford University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $124,080 | #10 of 5103 | 100th |
| Average net price | $13,807 | #1860 of 5020 | 63rd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 92.4% | #146 of 4858 | 97th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,554 | #491 of 5462 | 91st |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
7,554
Undergraduate enrollment
3.6%
Acceptance rate
1,553
SAT average
92.4%
150%-time completion
$124,080
10-yr median earnings
98.2%
First-year retention
How Stanford University ranks in California
State rank among 493 reporting California colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Stanford University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $124,080 | #4 of 493 | 99th |
| Average net price | $13,807 | #165 of 495 | 67th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 92.4% | #20 of 483 | 96th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,554 | #101 of 553 | 82nd |
Highest former-student earnings in California
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samuel Merritt University | $143,238 | - |
| 2 | Harvey Mudd College | $138,687 | $35,924 |
| 3 | California Institute of Technology | $128,566 | $16,075 |
| 4 | Stanford UniversityThis school | $124,080 | $13,807 |
| 5 | Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health | $115,318 | - |
| 6 | Gnomon | $114,785 | $51,949 |
| 7 | Santa Clara University | $109,183 | $50,062 |
| 8 | Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University | $109,183 | - |
| 9 | Touro University California | $104,805 | - |
| 10 | Claremont McKenna College | $104,736 | $28,849 |
| 11 | West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County | $102,672 | $32,879 |
| 12 | West Coast University-Ontario | $102,672 | $49,590 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 3.6% |
| SAT Average | 1,553 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770 – 800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740 – 780 |
| ACT Average | 35 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 34 – 35 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Stanford University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k $-2,536
$0 – $30k
$-2,536 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k $-193
$30k – $48k
$-193 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k $3,212
$48k – $75k
$3,212 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$53,882 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Stanford University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $65,910 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $65,910 |
| Average Net Price | $13,807 |
19.2%
Pell Grant Rate
6.2%
Federal Loan Rate
$12,000
Median Debt
$127/mo
Monthly Payment
Stanford University costs less today than it did in 2013
Average net price fell from $15,713 to $12,136 (-22.8%) between 2013 and 2023, before any inflation adjustment, which makes the real-terms fall larger still. Most colleges moved the other way: the median change across the 4,315 schools measured over the same span was +14.6%.
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $15,7132023 · $12,136
Over the same years, enrollment went +12.3% (6,980 → 7,841 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
49.4%
Female
30.3%
First Generation
Outcomes
98.2%
Retention Rate
$102,887
Median Earnings (6yr)
87.1%
Earning Over $25K
91.6%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 92.4% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 98.2% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $102,887 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $124,080 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 87.1% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 91.6% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $12,000 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $127/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 19 | 1,246 | $109,907 | $214,907 | $10,351 |
| Master's | 15 | 974 | $164,900 | $261,816 | $41,247 |
| Doctoral | 5 | 207 | $173,407 | $231,917 | - |
| First Professional | 2 | 278 | $187,038 | $259,944 | $112,390 |
Top programs at Stanford University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$261,816 median earnings
- Law
Law
$259,944 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$255,667 median earnings
- Electrical, Electronics, a…
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
$231,917 median earnings
- Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
$218,808 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$214,907 median earnings
- Engineering-Related Fields
Engineering-Related Fields
$206,093 median earnings
- Electrical, Electronics, a…
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
$181,705 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | 0 | $261,816 | $57,458 |
| Law | First Professional | 190 | $259,944 | $153,302 |
| Computer Science | Master's | 334 | $255,667 | - |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Doctoral | 67 | $231,917 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | Doctoral | 54 | $218,808 | - |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 277 | $214,907 | $10,399 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | Master's | 99 | $206,093 | - |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Master's | 96 | $181,705 | - |
| Chemistry | Doctoral | 31 | $170,898 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | Master's | 94 | $167,632 | $41,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Master's | 54 | $147,375 | - |
| Cognitive Science | Bachelor's | 64 | $131,650 | $7,500 |
| Education, General | Doctoral | 25 | $125,390 | - |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | Doctoral | 30 | $120,024 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's | 49 | $117,072 | - |
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Private Nonprofit institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Private Nonprofit institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Similar 2013–2023 Net-Price Trend
Same-sector institutions with the same direction and nearest fitted annual change; only series with R² of at least 0.40 qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Stanford University? ▼
Stanford University is a private nonprofit institution in Stanford, California. The acceptance rate is 3.6%. The average SAT score is 1,553. Undergraduate enrollment is 7,554 students.
How much do Stanford University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Stanford University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $124,080 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $102,887.
How much does Stanford University cost? ▼
The average net price at Stanford University is $13,807. In-state tuition is $65,910 and out-of-state tuition is $65,910. Median student debt at graduation is $12,000.
What is the graduation rate at Stanford University? ▼
Stanford University has a 92.4% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 98.2%.
Is Stanford University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Stanford University is $12,000, while former students earn a median of $124,080 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 10% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 91.6% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $127.
Sources & methodology
Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.
Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Stanford University
- Compare Stanford University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in California side by side.Browse California
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.