Stanford University

The overall fee at Stanford comprises tuition costs and living expenses, which may vary based on the students' lifestyles. The tuition at Stanford University is around INR 58 L for undergraduate programs, and ranges between INR 25 L and INR 1.23 Cr for postgraduate programs. Along with the tuition cost, students must make a budget for additional expenses such as accommodation, transportation, insurance, books and supplies, food, and miscellaneous and personal expenses. Students can check the table below for tuition costs of popular programs:

The living costs to pursue any master's or undergraduate programs at Stanford depend on various factors, including the type of course, living standards, housing choice, and personal expenses. The estimated cost of living for Indians can range between INR 20L and INR 30L, excluding tuition costs. This cost may cover expenses like health insurance, transportation, meals, housing, and personal expenditure. International students are advised to make a proper budget before enrolling in any programme at Stanford.

Stanford University offers a range of programs that provide a high return on investment for international students. Some of the popular programs with high ROI are Computer Science, Data Science, and MBA. The reason for their high ROI is its thriving tech and business ecosystem in Silicon Valley, and the graduates secure roles in companies such as Google, Apple, Meta, or other ventures. The salaries of these graduates range between INR 1 Cr to INR 1.3Cr, which offsets tuition and living costs. Students can also opt for courses like Engineering and Bioengineering.

Stanford University attracts students worldwide for its programs, including Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Business, Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering, and more. These programs usually belong to the School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Business. The reason for the program's popularity is Silicon Valley resources, excellent faculty, and cutting-edge labs. International students usually opt for specializations such as Machine Learning, Sustainable Energy, Product Design, and Sustainable Energy. Students can also combine courses across departments.

For the academic year 2024-25, the total number of students at Stanford University is 18,625. Out of this, 7,904 are UG students and 10,721 are PG students. International student percentage is 15% for UG level. Here is the student ethnicity of UG students:

Stanford and Harvard University are the two of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. Their classes are challenging, professors are distinguished, and the admission processes are very selective. Stanford University acceptance rate for Indians is 3.61% for 2024-25, whereas, Harvard University acceptance rate is 3.65%. Just on the margin, this year, Harvard University is easier to get into than Stanford. A comparison between these universities is given below:

Stanford University MBA fees for the academic year 2025-26 is USD 135,771 for a single student (Around INR 1.18 Cr). The tuition fee is USD 85,755 (Around INR 75 L). The living expenses at this university for Indian students enrolled in the MBA course are going to be as follows:

Stanford University seeks students who perform exceptionally in academics, have leadership qualities, and have innovation potential. Also, students must meet basic eligibility by holding a 4-year bachelor's degree with good records, a total GPA of 3.5 on 4 point scale, and showing English language requirement. Students must also submit GRE scores, LORs, SOP, resume to improve the chances of selection.

Also, students must be involved in internships, research work, and industry projects to strengthen their application. The technical programs demand prior experience in mathematics or relevant fields.

While the business schools like Harvard, Stanford GSB, and Wharton are among the top schools to pursue Business and Management, Wharton is the least selective of all three. 

Wharton's larger class size (866 in MBA Class 2026) is the main reason for its accessibility. Wharton seeks students with strong quantitative and diverse professional backgrounds, which makes it more accessible than Harvard and Stanford. 

Mentioned below are the offer rates to the most prestigious b schools in the world:

Stanford has been receiving an increased number of applications from prospective students for the last few years. As a result, the acceptance rate of Stanford has been dropping sharply. The number of applications received by the university vs. those admitted to the campus can be checked out from the table given below: