Stanford University is extremely selective — one of the hardest universities in the United States to get into.
Most Recent Overall Rates
- For the Class of 2028, Stanford received over 57,000 applications and admitted only about 3.6% of students.
- In recent cycles the acceptance rate has typically stayed below 4%.
This means that out of every 100 students who apply, only about 3 or 4 are admitted. That is extremely competitive compared to most colleges.
Historic Context
- A decade ago (around 2014), Stanford’s acceptance rate was above 5%, but in the last several years it has dropped as applications have increased and the university has maintained a small class size.
- Even with slight yearly changes, the trend shows very low admissions chances.
By Application Type (Undergraduate)
- Stanford offers Restrictive Early Action (non-binding early application), which sometimes has a slightly higher acceptance percentage compared to Regular Decision, but it still remains highly competitive.
Graduate and Professional Programs
Acceptance rates for graduate programs vary widely:
- MBA and other professional programs may have slightly higher rates than undergraduate.
- Some graduate and research programs can be selective as well depending on the discipline (e.g., Medicine, Law, Engineering).
Summary
Stanford University’s overall acceptance rate (latest data): ~3.6–3.9% for undergraduate admissions.
That makes Stanford one of the most selective universities in the world alongside Harvard and MIT.
