How to get into Stanford University

Key takeaways:

Stanford University was ranked the #6 college in the United States by College Raptor in 2026.
Stanford is one of the most selective schools in the country, accepting only 3.6% of applications.
Students can increase their chances of receiving an acceptance letter by taking challenging courses, getting involved in their community, and applying early.

Hoover Tower in Stanford University campus aerial shot.

Flickr user Yan-Di Chang

Stanford University is regularly named a top school in the United States – and one of the hardest to get into. In the recent application cycle, the school only accepted 3.6% of applicants! Understanding how to get into Stanford University could give your application the boost it needs. Below, we’ve covered what makes Stanford such a good school, a brief history of the university, and how you can increase your chances of receiving an acceptance letter.

Stanford University was ranked #6 by College Raptor for 2026

In our 2026 rankings, we named Stanford University #6 out of the Top 50 Best Colleges in the United States. When compiling the list each year, College Raptor looks at a number of different areas such as diversity, endowment, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratios, first year retention rates, and more.

Stanford University also made a number of our other “Top” lists including:

A short history of Stanford University

Stanford University was founded in 1885, originally named Leland Stanford Junior University in memory of the founder’s son, Leland Sanford, and began admitting students in 1891. Although located in California, it was modeled after colleges in the East, specifically Cornell University, and would actually become known as “Cornell of the West” as many faculty members were from Cornell. Later, it would also be called “the Harvard of the West.”

Fun facts

Number of Students: 18,296
Religious Affiliation: None
School Motto: Die Luft der Freiheit weht, German for “The wind of freedom blows”
Newspaper: The Stanford Daily
Student Nickname: Cardinals
School Colors: Red and white
Unofficial Mascot: Stanford Tree
Some Famous Alumni: Herbert Hoover, Sandra Day O’Connor, Phil Knight, Reid Hoffman, Larry Page, Condoleezza Rice

Why is Stanford University a top rated school?

Stanford University is well known for its academic and research excellence. Students and faculty have access to standout facilities, unique research opportunities, and an environment that supports innovation and growth. The campus is home to the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and Hopkins Marine Station.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, students are close to the latest tech start-ups and well-known companies. Many alumni have gone on to found or lead many of the most recognizable technology companies today, such as Larry Page, the founder of Alphabet Inc., and Reid Hoffman, the founder of the LinkedIn Corporation. Stanford has also produced world leaders, more than 70 living billionaires, over 15 astronauts, Rhodes Scholars, and U.S. Congress members.

The Stats

Four Year Graduation Rate: 77%
- #118 in the United States
Student-to-Faculty ratio: 6 to 1
- #34 in the United States
First Year Retention Rate: 98%
- #2 in the Far West
Endowment:
- #3 in the United States for Largest Endowment
- #4 in the United States for Endowment per Student
Diversity: #130 in the United States

How to increase your chances of getting into Stanford

According to their website, Stanford University practices “holistic admission” – they will not look at individual pieces of your application one at a time, but rather the whole submission in context. They state that they understand every student is unique and they will take special circumstances and opportunities into account.

Stanford University has one of the lowest acceptance rates in the country at 3.6%. Even if you have a stellar application, your chances of receiving an acceptance letter is low. It’s a high-reach school for everyone. To increase the possibility, though, follow these tips:

Know what Stanford is looking for in a student

Good grades matter on just about any college application, but Stanford and other top-rated colleges are looking beyond your GPA. Stanford, in particular, is looking for students who:

Challenge themselves
Show dedication to passions
Showcase intellectual vitality
A commitment to endeavors and goals
Seek out opportunities
Participate in extracurriculars
Are leaders
Show social responsibility
Are dedicated to innovation
Are passionate about learning

Focus on academic rigor

As stated above, Stanford wants to see students who challenge themselves. One way to show this is by taking advanced courses, such as AP or dual credit classes. They highlight your capabilities and show you’re passionate about learning. Plus, advanced classes can increase your weighted GPA.

Score well on the ACT or SAT

Stanford requires the ACT or SAT with your application. On the ACT, students should aim for a 34 to 36 Composite score. For the SAT, it’s recommended that you score a 1,510 or higher. Take the test several times, study, and work with a tutor or study partner to keep improving your score.

Get involved

Getting involved in extracurriculars and your community shows drive and commitment. Participate in clubs, projects, and volunteer work that speak to your passions, goals, and you as a person.

Remember: quality over quantity. Stanford (and other selective schools) don’t want to see a jumble of clubs you attended for a couple of sessions. They’d much rather you dedicate to a few select passions, show social responsibility, and demonstrate leadership.

Give attention to the short essay questions

Stanford University uses the Common Application, so you’ll need to write a personal statement as well as Stanford’s requested short essays.

In 2025, the three posted short essay questions required a 100 word minimum and a 250 word maximum. The topics included:

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.
Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

You’ll also need to answer a number of questions, limited to 50 words each.

With each of your essays and questions, plan out your response. Brainstorm topics to talk about, write them, and then edit. Have someone you trust read your work before you submit for further feedback.

Apply early

Many colleges have higher acceptance rates under early admission cycles compared to regular decision. Stanford offers Restrictive Early Action (REA), with a deadline of November 1. If you apply under REA, you cannot apply to any other college under early decision or early action. You can apply to other schools through regular decision.

However, you should never apply early if your application isn’t ready, as you could end up hurting your chances rather than helping. Submit under regular decision if your essay needs more work or if you’d like to take the ACT/SAT again.

As a top rated and highly selective school, getting into Stanford University isn’t easy. Space is limited, so not all “qualified” students will receive an acceptance letter. If you’re interested in applying to Stanford, research the university, start your essay early, focus on academic rigor, get involved in your community, and score well on the ACT/SAT.

Are you interested in attending Stanford? See how you stack up against other students who have been accepted in recent years by using College Match tool today.