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Stanford University Admissions 2026: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

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Stanford University Admissions
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International students can be a part of Stanford University admissions in early action and regular decision modes. The Stanford application deadline of 2025 for its UG and PG courses is mentioned below -
Undergraduate Deadlines:
  • Regular Decision Application: Jan 5, 2026
  • Decision Release (Early Action): Mid-December
  • Decision Release (Regular Decision): Early April
  • Admission Confirmation Deadline: May 1, 2026.
Postgraduate Deadlines: Deadlines vary depending on the program, such as -
  • MBA Program Round 2 Deadline: Jan 8, 2026
  • MBA Program Round 3 Deadline: Apr 7-8, 2026
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Stanford University Admissions
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Stanford University Admissions 2026

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   How can I get into Stanford after 12th?
A: 

Stanford's admission committee assesses its foreign applicants’ academic qualifications as per the volume of nations’ educational systems. It includes the type of school they attended and the level of education they attained. Hence, there are some things mandatory for international applicants.

UG criteria
- Official high school transcripts (English translation);

- Mid-year and final mark sheets;

- Early Decision Agreement (if applying for Early Decision);

- Essay; and

- Other course-specific requirements.

Q:   What kind of students does Stanford look for?
A: 

Stanford University follows a holistic admission policy. For undergraduate applicants, each and every part of the application is reviewed before granting admission. Below-given are the factors that are considered for Stanford University admission:

  • The primary criterion is academic excellence through the transcripts
  • Intellectual vitality
  • Extracurricular activities such as what impact students had in their jobs (if any), in the club, in the school, etc.
Q:   What does it take to get into Stanford MBA program?
A: 

For Stanford University admissions to the MBA program, the applicants are required to have the following things:

  • A U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required. Also, the two-year master’s degree following the three-year bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required
  • Academic transcripts
  • GMAT / GRE test score
  • Work experience is not required but applicants can submit CV if they want to (one-page resume)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Essays
  • Optional short answer question
  • Application fee
Q:   What is the acceptance rate for Stanford University?
A: 

Acceptance rate of Stanford Uni is 3.9%, which shows that university is hard and selection process of university is competitive. 

Stanford University acceptance rate is continuously decreasing due to high selection criteria making it difficult for students to get admission.

Students with excellent qualifications and higher exam scores with all the supporting documents have the chance to get into university.

Stanford University Admission Dates 2026

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I apply to Stanford after the deadline?
A: 

As per the Stanford University guidelines, late applications are not accepted. After the application deadline, the application window closes. 

International applicants can refer to the deadlines for UG and PG courses given below - 

  • UG Regular Application Deadlines - Jan 5, 2026
  • PG MBA Round 2 Application Deadline - Jan 8, 2026
  • PG MBA Round 3 - Apr 7, 2026
Q:   What GPA do you need to get into Stanford Masters?
A: 

Typically, GPAs are at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for Stanford University MS applicants. Apart from this, we have given basic admission requirements to study graduate programs at Stanford University.

  • Basic Education: To enroll in Stanford’s graduate programs, applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree or bachelor's degree in Engineering or Medicine.
  • Standardized test scores (as applicable)
  • English Language Proficiency Test scores: A TOEFL (iBT) exam score is sufficient to prove the English skills of international applicants. The minimum score required is 100 (except for the School of Engineering) and 89 if applying to the School of Engineering

Documents required for graduate programs at Stanford.

  • Academic transcripts
  • Standardized test score reports
  • English language proficiency test scores (only TOEFL iBT accepted)
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Essays
  • Resume

Also Read: Top 100 Universities for MS in USA

Q:   Can I apply for Stanford University MBA now?
A: 

Yes, the Stanford University application deadlines are open for international students for the year 2026. These programs like MBA follow a round system and the application deadlines are given below - 

Application RoundApply byNotification by
Round 1Sep 9, 2025 (Closed)Dec 10, 2025
Round 2Jan 7, 2026Apr 2, 2026
Round 3Apr 7, 2026May 28, 2026

Stanford University Admission Requirements 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   How can Indian students get admission at Stanford University?
A: 

Check tips for Indian students for admission to Stanford Uni mentioned below

  • Aim for good scores in SAT/ACT
  • Acquire strong LORs
  • SOP should be very clear
  • Focus on admission essay
Q:   What is a perfect Stanford Application like?
A: 

A perfect application means exceptional academic achievment, intellectual excitement, and a strong values and mission on goals. A perfect appliction showcases an outsanding academic performance, often including with top grades and standerized scores. But Stanford just dosn't accept students by grades as it sees students beyond academic, the ideal applicant showcases extracurrcular acitivies, reasearch, passion for learning and projects that are unique in it's own. 

Moreover, a standout application means that it also conveys a unique story that makes the applicant very different and unqiue from other applicants. This could be through personal essays, Recomendations and many more. Stanford University wants students who will contribute meaningfully to the university showcasing a good leadership, commitment and engagement. Hence this is what is a good or a perfect application like. 

Q:   How to get admission to Stanford University from India?
A: 

Below we have given Stanford University admission requirements for undergraduate courses

  • USD 90 nonrefundable application fee
  • ACT or SAT test scores (as applicable)
  • School Report form and counselor letter of recommendation
  • Official transcript (s) or academic results
  • Letters of recommendation from two teachers
  • Midyear transcript (by February 15)
  • Proof of English proficiency

Stanford University admissions are not limited to academic scores, the university looks at the overall profile of the candidate. In a clear sense, the primary factor for admission is academic excellence. However, the university also wants to learn about your nonacademic interests and extracurricular activities that help them in understanding your contribution to its community.

Graduate Admissions 

  • International students willing to take admission to Stanford University graduate courses must have a U.S. bachelor's degree or its international equivalent from a college or university of recognised standing. In other words, Indian students must have a bachelor's degree in Engineering or Medicine; or four-year bachelor's degree

Read: Requirements to Study in USA for International Students 

Q:   What is Stanford application process?
A: 

Given below are the steps to apply to Stanford University:

UG PG
  • Common application
  • Application fee of USD 90
  • School report form and counselor letter of recommendation
  • Official transcripts
  • Letter of recommendation from two teachers
  • Any other document (as applicable)
  • First of all, check the entry requirements
  • Then, click on the relevant application button present on the Graduate admissions page of Stanford University
  • Next, create a new application account and enter all the asked details like name, email id, birth date, etc.
  • Then, follow the instructions to establish the account password
  • Lastly, login and fill out the application and submit it
  • The application fee to apply for Stanford University graduate courses is USD 125

 

Stanford University MS Admissions 2026

37 courses 9 months - 3 years
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30.9L - 1.3Cr

iconEligibility Criteria

  • Accepting Exams: TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, Duolingo, GRE, GMAT
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Commonly asked questions
On MS Admissions
Q:   What are the Stanford University MS Computer Science requirement for the international students?
A: 

Stanford University MS Computer Science requirement for the international students are mentioned below:

  • students applying at the univesity for the MS course are required to hold a 4 year of bachelor's degree equivalent to the US qualification.
  • International students are also required to provide the proof of their English language proficiency if they are from non-native English-speaking countries. 
  • other documents and test scores including the CV, reference letter and more.
Q:   What are the MS course specialisation offered at Stanford University?
A: 

Stanford University offers various MS programs in different specializations, including Computer Science; Aeronautics and Astronautics; Data Science, Engineering, Software and many more.

some of the Stanford University MS programs are mentioned below:

  • MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics.
  • MS in Applied Physics.
  • MS in Bioengineering.
  • MS in Biomedical Data Science.
  • MS in Chemical Engineering.
  • MS in Computer Science and many other.

 

Q:   Is GRE required for Stanford University MS course?
A: 

Stanford University does not require the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores for the admission in the MS course along with other specialzations for all the programs but students can submit their GRE scores along with their application form to enhance their portfolio.

However, the university has not shared any mnimium score requirement for the GRE test. 

 

How to get into Stanford University in 2026?

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Commonly asked questions
On Application Process
Q:   What score do I need in GRE exam to get admission at Stanford University?
A: 

Stanford University provides test options to international students for some programs. If a student is applying for a graduate programme for which the GRE is required or optional, the score will be made available to the admission committee. If the scores are not required, the scores will not be displayed to the committee. The score provided by some graduates previously who were successfully admitted was between 325 and 330.

Q:   How can I get admission at Stanford University?
A: 

Along with following the basic admission process, students must aim to work on the factors the university considers during admission to improve their selection probability. Students can check the academic and non-academic factors considered by the university along with the level of importance:

Academic/Non-academic Factors

Level of Importance

Rigor of secondary school record   

Very Important

Class rank

Very Important

Academic Grade Point Average (GPA)

Very Important

Recommendations

Very Important

Standardized test scores

Considered

Application essay

Very Important

Interview

Considered

Extracurricular activities

Very Important

Talent/ability

Very Important

Character/personal qualities

Very Important

Q:   Should I attend Columbia University or Stanford University?
A: 

Deciding to study at either Columbia or Stanford University depends on the students' personal choice. However, some of the unique points of both these universities are given below: 

  • Those who are looking an urban setting and want to study programs in the fields like Law, Social Science, and Humanities, then they can go to Columbia Uni 
  • Those who want to study at a serene campus location that a strong STEM field focus and great tech culture can study at Stanford Uni

Stanford University Acceptance Rate 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Admission
Q:   How hard is it to get accepted at Stanford University?
A: 

As per the unofficial source, the Stanford University acceptance rate is 3.7%. The lower percentage shows that the university is extremely stringent during admission and is hard to get into Stanford. Students must perform extremely well in academic as well as non-academic factors to increase their chances of selection. Some crucial factors include the rigor of secondary school records, class rank, academic GPA, recommendation, application essay, extracurricular activities, and more.

Q:   What is the fee for various courses at Stanford?
A: 

Stanford Uni tuition fees varies as per the courses and a general estimate of the courses is given below: 

Courses

1st Year Tuition Fees

MBA/PGDM (7 courses)

INR 34 L - 1 Cr

MS (33 courses)

INR 30 L - 69 L

B.Sc. (13 courses)

INR 53 L - 55 L

M.A. (22 courses)

INR 25 L - 69 L

B.A. (37 courses)

INR 53 L - 55 L

MS0 / B.Tech (13 courses)

INR 53 L - 55 L

Stanford University
Students Ratings & Reviews

4.3/5
Verified Icon3 Verified ReviewsInfo Icon
Student Views (Based on Reviews)
  • 50% students never faced discrimination in this university
Vibe of Campus
Friendly
Academically oriented
Fun loving
Sporty
Internships4.3
Part time work4.7
Post study jobs4.7
Quality of faculty5
Student Life4.7
Value for money4
Public transportation3
Safety4.7
Indian Food3.7
Permanent Immigration4.3
A
AnonymousVerified Icon
BA in Art History - Batch of 2019
4.6
Stanford is great with good faculty and lots of opportunities.
Tips: Go to Stanford if you want to be around people who are creative risk-takers and highly ambitious. The spirit of entrepreneurship is very rich at Stanford. Take at least one class in coding as this will help you get more from Stanford regardless of your major. There is not enough good public transportation, SF is too far. Overall I am satisfied with the experience.
Likes (Quality of faculty): The faculty is good and highly qualified. Some lecturers are better than others. The art history department is too US-focused but this is changing. Centre for South Asia is slowly becoming more and more amazing. We love it. The faculty is overall approachable.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 4325
Prepping time for classes40 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
Reviewed on 6 Aug 2024Read more
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Nirali Parekh Verified Icon
BS in Management Science and Engineering - Batch of 2024
4.2
Stanford: Highly rewarding, very competitive and all-round growth
Tips: Cost: Stanford is expensive - both tuition and living expenses. Please check with the department and alumni regarding financial aid options before applying here. Competition: Stanford attracts the best talent from all around the world. At times, it can get super competitive and lead to anxiety, so be prepared to be challenged intellectually and socially. Cultural shift: Stanford and California in general, is known for its laid-back culture. Depending on where you're from, there might be weather changes, norms changes, and especially shifts in liberal social interactions.
Likes (Post study jobs): Alumni network: Stanford has a very strong alumni network which is very valuable for finding a job post-graduation. Stanford CareerEd offers many career-based services like Resume Review, connection to relevant individuals in the industry, interviewing skills, job hunting, etc. They also tailor the information according to your need - eg. Companies sponsoring visas, or in manufacturing sector, etc.
Dislikes (Public transportation): The campus internally is very well connected with Marguerite Shuttle, which is free to use for Stanford students. Outside the campus, there are public transport options like Caltrain and VTA available, but they do not cover all areas comprehensively, hence we have to rely on multiple modes of transport (like changing 3 buses to reach your destination) or personal vehicles. The cost of transportation like Caltrain can get a bit expensive for regular commuting, but can be affordable using Go passes.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2150
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
Reviewed on 5 Apr 2024Read more
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C
Charlton Christ W Verified Icon
BS in Engineering Physics - Batch of 2024
4.1
Amazing College for this Course!
Tips: This is an amazing place to learn and study if you are looking for a place to excel in your course knowledge. This is the place to go for. But also have a good SAT score so that you will get enough scholarship as the tuition fee is quite high when compared to other universities. Also, this is the best university in my opinion.
Likes (Safety): In this college, you will have amazing safety for the students as there will be a lot of rules and norms to follow. The foreign students feel amazing here because of the safety. There will be a lot of centers to go. The university has friendly people. All the students are friendly to the foreign students.
Dislikes (Indian Food): There were no Indian restaurants to start with. Even if I found one, it was expensive in terms of cost. This is the only reason that I didn't go to any Indian restaurant, instead I go to a Chinese restaurant. Also, I have saved some money to buy groceries and cook for myself.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2261
Prepping time for classes27 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 90125
Reviewed on 29 Nov 2022Read more
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A
Anonymous
Master of Arts in History - Batch of 2025
3.9
Stanford University has friendly and helpful faculty and management.
Tips: Before joining Stanford University, students should know that the college is strict but friendly as well. College life is a combination of academic, social, and personal growth that students experience. I found student life at Stanford to be a bit uneasy at first, but it eventually turned out to be a good experience. I liked spending time with my friends on the bus ride to and from campus each day, and I enjoyed interacting with both my friends and the faculty. The events at Stanford were a mix of traditional and cultural events. College life will be a transformative experience that offers a variety of experiences and opportunities for personal growth. Overall, I am quite satisfied with my experiences.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 6075
Prepping time for classes33 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 97625
Reviewed on 30 Oct 2024Read more
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Stanford University Admissions 2026 FAQs

Q:   How to get admission to Stanford for an MS in Computer Science?
A: 

Stanford University MS in Computer Science admission requirements are given below:

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • While the university does not require a specific undergraduate coursework, it is important that applicants have Quantitative and Analytical skills; a bachelor’s degree is CS is not required
  • Academic transcripts
  • Standardized test scores
  • TOEFL score
  • Any relevant experience
  • 3 academic or professional experiences
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Any other admission material
Q:   Is an MBA from Stanford worth it?
A: 

Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the top-ranked MBA programs in the U.S, and graduates here are paid amongst the best globally.

  • The median base salary reported by the graduates of 2024 was USD 175,000
  • 93% of graduates received job offers within 3 months of graduation, and about 85% of graduates accepted job offers in that time frame 
  • Top industries were Finance, Technology, and Consulting 
Q:   Is getting into Stanford MBA hard?
A: 

Stanford University MBA program is one of the most selective programs by top business schools. The school received more than 6,000 applications and accepted just 431 candidates. Just the test scores won't be enough to secure admission to Stanford MBA. 
The average undergraduate GPA for the class of 2025 was 3.77 
The GMAT score required was 738
Work experience of 5 years
Read: MBA Colleges in USA

Q:   I want to go to Stanford University and I am from India, what is the admission process for it?
A: 

Indian students who want to take admission to the undergraduate courses at Stanford University should pay attention to the following:

  • A very competitive SAT / ACT score
  • TOEFL / IELTS scores
  • Academic transcripts
  • Records of leadership skills (if any)
  • Records of internships
  • Recommendation letters
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Any other aspect that reflects uniqueness
  • Writing skills for essays
Q:   What are the best things to do on weekends as a student at Stanford?
A: 

Over the weekends, Stanford Uni students can do the following things: 

  • Join organizations that take you to places – teams or clubs with school-funded travel
  • Take weekend trips with the Outdoor Center to Yosemite, St. Reyes, and other local landmarks
  • Head north to Marin for amazing coastal hikes, food, and some quaint little towns like Bolinas
  • Sit in the library and study
  • Go to sporting events
  • Go to California Avenue for brunch / dinner / lunch  
Q:   What are the English language requirement for the admission in Sanford University?
A: 

Sanford University accepts TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) as the only English language requirement. Sanford University does not require English language test scores for the undergraduate admissions. The minimum score required at the university for the admission are mentioned below:

ExamsMinimum Scores
Doctoral Programs100
Master's Programs: all (except School of Engineering programs)100
Master's Programs: School of Engineering    89
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Comments

qna

Stanford University

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 6 days ago

GMAT scores are one of the crucial criteria during admission and are submitted by students to improve their profiles. 58% class submitted GMAT scores, and 42% submitted GRE scores. There is no ideal score provided by students to get into the Stanford MA. According to the university student profile 2

...Read more

N

Nishtha Bhatnagar

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 6 days ago

Yes, Stanford University offers 1-2 year MA programme to international students. Some popular programs are Philosophy, Psychology, International Education, Art History, Asian Studies, German Studies, History, and more. The programme is of 1-2 year and tuition fees is between INR 26L and INR 72L.

J

Jiya Chauhan

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 6 days ago

As per a ranking body, Stanford is popular for many programs like International Education, Art History, Asian Studies, German Studies, History, and more. Students can check some popular MA programs at Stanford along with the tuition fees:

Stanford University MA Programs

Tuition Fees

Philosophy

INR 35L

Psychology

INR 31L

International Comparative Education

INR 72L

Art History

INR 31L

East Asian Studies

INR 35L

German Studies

INR 31L

History

INR 35L

International Policy

INR 37L

M

Mukul Thapa

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 6 days ago

Students who have scored high in their UG degree and have some job experience or done some internship in the similar subjects should think of taking admission at Stanford for MA. Philosophy, Psychology, International Education, Art History, Asian Studies, German Studies, History, and more, are some

...Read more

R

Rashmi Singh

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

Yes portfolio is important requirement that you must provide Stanford University if you need admission in Design course. You should have already mastered some basic skills that you can bring for the program such as quick idea sketching, product rendering, prototype building, etc. 

K

Kanishka Gambhir

Contributor-Level 10

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Loveleen is a seasoned content writer with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for Shiksha. When he is not writing and helping students, he can be found at the movies, reading fiction, and learning a new language.

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