Stanford Acceptance Rate

Stanford University, located in Stanford, California, is renowned for its highly selective undergraduate admissions process. For the Class of 2028, Stanford reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 3.7%, making it one of the most competitive universities in the world. This selectivity is driven by a massive applicant pool—often exceeding 55,000 applications annually—and the university's commitment to admitting a small, diverse, and exceptionally talented cohort. Factors such as increasing applications from domestic and international students, along with Stanford's prestigious reputation in fields like technology and entrepreneurship, contribute to its low acceptance rate. Fortunately, Stanford provides transparent admission statistics through its official website and the Common Data Set, offering reliable insights into its admissions trends.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 3.7% for the Class of 2028, with approximately 55,471 applicants and around 2,050 admitted students, reflecting a slight decrease from prior years.
• Early Action/Decision Rate: Stanford offers Restrictive Early Action (REA), with an estimated acceptance rate of 5.0%, higher than the regular decision rate, though exact figures for the latest cycle are not publicly detailed.
• International Student Rate: Estimated at 3.5%, as international applicants face similar competitiveness; Stanford admitted students from over 70 countries, though specific data for the Class of 2028 is unavailable.

Over the past decade, Stanford's acceptance rate has trended downward, dropping from around 5% in 2015 to under 4% in recent years, reflecting growing competitiveness. The Restrictive Early Action program often yields a slightly higher acceptance rate, encouraging early applicants, though spaces remain limited. International student admissions are equally rigorous, with no significant disparity in selectivity compared to domestic applicants. Compared to peer institutions like Harvard (3.2%) and MIT (4.0%), Stanford's selectivity remains on par, solidifying its position among the elite. For the most accurate and updated data, prospective students are encouraged to visit Stanford's official admissions page at admission.stanford.edu or review the Common Data Set for historical trends.