Stanford University Acceptance Rate
Stanford, California · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 53,733
- Admitted
- 2,099
- Yield
- 80.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Stanford University's acceptance rate has fallen from 5.1% in 2014–15 to 3.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 42,167 to 53,733 (+27%) over that period.
Its 3.9% rate makes Stanford University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 96%.
Stanford University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 80.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 42,167 | 2,145 | 5.1% | 1,678 |
| 2015–16 | 42,497 | 2,140 | 5% | 1,720 |
| 2016–17 | 43,997 | 2,118 | 4.8% | 1,739 |
| 2017–18 | 44,073 | 2,085 | 4.7% | 1,700 |
| 2018–19 | 47,452 | 2,071 | 4.4% | 1,697 |
| 2019–20 | 47,498 | 2,062 | 4.3% | 1,698 |
| 2020–21 | 45,227 | 2,349 | 5.2% | 1,606 |
| 2021–22 | 55,471 | 2,190 | 3.9% | 1,757 |
| 2022–23 | 56,378 | 2,075 | 3.7% | 1,736 |
| 2023–24 | 53,733 | 2,099 | 3.9% | 1,699 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 26,600 | 1,055 | 4% |
| Men | 27,133 | 1,044 | 3.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 740–780 | 47% |
| SAT Math | 770–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 22% |
How Stanford University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Stanford University's acceptance rate?
Stanford University's acceptance rate is 3.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,099 admitted of 53,733 applicants).
Is Stanford University test optional?
Stanford University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Stanford University?
Stanford University received 53,733 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,099.
What SAT score do you need for Stanford University?
Admitted students at Stanford University typically scored 740–780 on SAT Reading/Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Stanford University getting harder to get into?
Stanford University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 5.1% in 2014–15 to 3.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.stanford.edu/.