Stanford University
Stanford University publishes an acceptance rate of 3.6% and is required for the 2026-27 cycle.
Testing
Required for 2026-27
- Policy
Stanford requires ACT or SAT scores for 2026-27 first-year applicants ('ACT or SAT scores are required'). No minimum score is set and no score guarantees admission.
- SAT middle 50%
- 1510–1580sum of section 25th–75th percentiles
- ACT middle 50%
- 34–35
- Average HS GPA
- Not published by the school
Applying
Deadlines, essays and AI policy
- Early deadlines
- Nov 1, 2026 (REA)
- Regular decision
- Jan 5, 2027Source
- Supplemental essays
- 8 required
3 short essays (100-250 words each: intellectual excitement, roommate letter, distinctive contribution) plus 5 very short-answer questions (3-50 words each) = 8 required written responses total, in addition to the Common App personal essay.
- AI use in essays
No Official Policy
We reviewed Stanford's application-and-essays page, first-year apply pages, and application-status FAQ, and searched the admissions site for 'artificial intelligence' — nothing published on applicant AI use.
Full cycle calendar: Application Deadlines.
At a glance
Size and cost
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 7,554
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $65,910
- Category
- Elite Private
- Admissions site
- www.stanford.edu
Dewey Smart
Dewey students who got into Stanford University
What should this school mean for your list?
A published rate is one input. Working out what it means alongside the rest of your list is the part that actually changes an application. Free 25-minute call, no commitment.
Sources
- Stanford University test policy (2026-27)
- Stanford University deadlines
- Stanford University admissions pages
- Stanford University admissions pages
- Acceptance rate, test-score percentiles, enrollment and tuition: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, pulled 2026-08-19.
Test policy and deadlines last verified 2026-08-17.
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