Stanford University

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Stanford University is an elite research university in Palo Alto, California. Stanford is the highest-ranked university in the western US. Computer Science is the most popular major by far. Note that Stanford has more graduate students than undergraduates.

Affordability: Stanford meets 100% of demonstrated need without student loans. Theoretically, Stanford is affordable for any student admitted. Their need aid is among the best in the US. However, they do not offer merit aid. Higher income students will pay full price, which is high. According to NCES data, most students do not take out loans (5% of freshman borrowed, on average, $8,868 in 2020-21).

Rankings:

#3 research universities, U.S. News
#2 colleges and universities, CollegeSimply
#2 best colleges and universities, Niche

Popular Majors (NCES):

Computer Science
Human Biology
Econometrics
Engineering
Engineering/Industrial Management
Political Science

Students, Admissions, enrollment, graduation rates (NCES):

7,645 undergraduate students; 10,035 graduate students
4% acceptance rate
80% enrolled
96% graduation rate