Chances of getting into Stanford University
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Stanford and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Stanford is 5%. It ranks #1 in California and #2 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Stanford is extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Last year, 2,349 out of 45,227 applicants were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 4 percent (SAT 1420/1570 ACT 31/35). Stanford University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.96. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. Of those applicants who were admitted, 68% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by Stanford University is a prized outcome for many students.
The Stanford application fee is $90 and applications are due by Jan 3.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. Stanford University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
Stanford SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 700 |
| SAT Math 25th | 720 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1420 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 770 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1570 |
| Average SAT Score | 1500 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Stanford University?
Stanford University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 4 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1420 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1340. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1500 out of 1600. Stanford ranks #3 in California and #20 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 69 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1570 and Above | Good | >8% |
| 1495 to 1570 | Avg + | 5%-8% |
| 1420 to 1495 | Avg - | 3%-5% |
| 1345 to 1420 | Reach | 2%-3% |
| Less than 1345 | Low | <2% |
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Stanford ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 33 |
| ACT Math 25th | 30 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 31 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 33 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Stanford?
Admission data indicates that Stanford regularly accepts students with ACT's of 31 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 5 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 29 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 33 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #3 in California and #32 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 55 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Stanford University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >8% |
| 33 to 35 | Avg + | 5%-8% |
| 31 to 33 | Avg - | 3%-5% |
| 29 to 31 | Reach | 2%-3% |
| Less than 29 | Low | <2% |
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Stanford GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into Stanford University?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into Stanford. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Stanford University was 3.96 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #8 in California for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Stanford extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.96 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.96 GPA.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 68.7% | Avg - |
| 3.75 to 3.99 | 27.5% | Reach |
| 3.50 to 3.74 | 3.1% | Reach |
| 3.25 to 3.49 | 0.4% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.24 | 0.3% | Low |
| 2.50 to 2.99 | 0% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.49 | 0% | Low |
| 1.00 to 1.99 | 0% | Low |
| less than 1.00 | 0% | Low |
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
96% of Stanford University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 96% |
| Top 25% of class | 3.2% |
| Top 50% of class | 1% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 21,426 | 23,801 | 45,227 |
| Accepted | 1,222 | 1,127 | 2,349 |
| Acceptance Rate | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Enrolled | 828 | 778 | 1,606 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 68% | 69% | 68% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 3, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Stanford University is $90.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Stanford University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=243744 IPEDS survey data for Stanford University.
FAQs
Does Stanford University prefer SAT or ACT?
69% of students submit their SAT scores to Stanford. 55% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Stanford University?
5% of those who apply are granted admission to Stanford. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Stanford University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1420 and 1570. 69% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Stanford University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 31 and 35. 55% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.