Stanford University

stanford university accreditation

Prestigious, Private Pac-12 Education at Stanford

Stanford University appears in our ranking of 30 Great Schools Promoting Healthy Living on Campus.

Named the United States’ sixth best value by Forbes, Stanford University is a top-tier nonsectarian, research-based AAU member in the Silicon Valley that grants 68 bachelor’s, 56 master’s, and 88 doctoral degrees, including 11 entirely online, at a 5:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the Chinese BA crafts a 180-unit, four-year curriculum headed by Dr. Ronald Egan where undergrads can research in the Center for East Asian Studies, attend Confucius Institute events, and exchange to Peking University. Chaired by Dr. Kevin Arrigo, the 180-unit Earth Systems BS offers opportunities to undertake Energy Control Lab research, earn the Beagle II Award, intern at the Hopkins Marine Station, contribute to the Stanford Alpine Project, and join the Young Environmental Scholars.

Online on Canvas, the Stanford School of Engineering led by Dr. Jennifer Widom delivers a 45-unit, part-time Biomedical Informatics MS where post-grads take intensive 200-level courses like Data Driven Medicine and Artificial Intelligence before thesis research for 94 percent job placement. Directed by Dr. Alexander Nemerov, the 135-unit Art History Ph.D. admits 4-7 candidates with graduate assistantships each year for Coulter Art Gallery exhibits, Smithsonian Institution trips, internships like the San Francisco Arts Commission, and dissertation research. Additional Stanford degrees include the International Relations BA, Linguistics BA, Engineering Physics BS, Statistics MS, Genetic Counseling MS, Classics MA, Learning Design MA, Music Ph.D., Computer Science Ph.D., and Law JD.

About Stanford University

Stanford University originated on November 11, 1885, when Governor Leland Stanford Sr. and his wife Jane signed the Founding Grant to create a coeducational institution in their late son’s honor. In October 1891, an inaugural class of 400 begin tuition-free courses at the family’s Palo Alto Farm. In 1892, Stanford started playing the legendary Big Game against the University of California. In 1894, George Hall Ashley received Stanford’s first doctorate. In May 1901, the Law School awarded the earliest LL.M. degree. Struck by an earthquake in 1906, Stanford University added the School of Education to the Main Quad in 1917. In 1925, Dr. Theodore Hoover established the School of Engineering. In 1951, the Research Park was opened with Silicon Valley’s Varian Associates. Twelve years later, Stanford debuted the Bechtel International Center. By 2012, the Office for Online Learning was launched on the Web.

Endowed for $26.5 billion, Stanford University now employs 2,240 faculty teaching 7,083 undergrad and 9,437 post-grad Cardinals from 63 countries online or at the 700-building Santa Clara County campus with 600+ clubs like the Women’s Coalition. In 2017, Stanford won the International Parking Institute’s Award of Excellence. In 2018, Stanford accepted the Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award. Stanford received a 2018 CASE Gold Circle of Excellence Award too. The U.S. News & World Report placed Stanford University second for business, third for teaching, first for computer science, and second for engineering degrees. On Niche, Stanford boasts America’s 10th most diversity, 12th best student life, and 29th top athletics program. The Princeton Review crowned Stanford the fourth best-run college with the fifth best university library. The Center for World University Rankings honored Stanford for the globe’s 10th highest-quality education and third best alumni employment.

Stanford University Accreditation Details

On June 21, 2013, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission mailed a formal notification letter to Stanford University stating that the Level VI accreditation was successfully extended through a Spring 2023 visit under the 11th president, Dr. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, who earned the AAA Charles Judson Herrick Award. Located 31 miles up Interstate 880 in Alameda, this elite eight-territory Pacific Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and California Department of Education. The Office of the University Registrar also lists these accreditations:

  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling
  • American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
  • Liaison Committee on Medical Education
  • American Bar Association Section on Legal Education
  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants

Stanford University Application Requirements

Admission to Stanford University is classified “most selective” by Peterson’s because only 2,118 of the 43,997 Fall 2017 applicants were triumphant for extremely low 5 percent acceptance. First-year Cardinals must have taken a serious, rigorous high school curriculum with 18+ college-prep units. Advanced Placement courses graded 4 or higher are particularly helpful. The Class of 2021 presented an average cumulative GPA of 3.95. Mid-range ACT composite scores were 31-35. The middle 50th percentile earned SAT marks of 680-780 for Reading and 700-800 for Math. Undergrads can transfer a maximum of 90 quarter units with minimum 3.5 GPAs. Master’s and doctoral programs require completing at least a four-year college degree first. Competitive post-grads will have postsecondary GPAs of 3.3 and higher. On average, Stanford students report GRE scores of 167 Quantitative, 161 Verbal, and 4.5 Analytical Writing. The School of Business accepts a median 737 GMAT mark. Doctor of Medicine cohorts earn a mean 519 MCAT score.

Stanford University set freshman deadlines of November 1st for Restrictive Early Action or January 2nd for Regular Decision. Arts portfolios are due October 15th or December 1st. Undergrad transfers are welcome until March 15th. The Graduate Admissions Office has wide-ranging program deadlines. For instance, the Energy Resources Engineering MS closes on December 11th. Laboratory Animal Science MS cohorts must file by June 22nd. Latin American Studies MA students apply until December 4th. The Psychology Ph.D. has a firm November 13th deadline. Curriculum Studies PhD materials are due December 3rd. Prospective Cardinals must check dates before submitting the Stanford, Coalition, or Common Application for $90 ($125 if graduate). Forward official transcripts to 450 Serra Mall in Stanford, CA 94305. Send test results via SAT/GRE code 4704, ACT code 0434, or GMAT code L9R-KW-27. Contact (650) 723-2091 or [email protected] to learn further steps.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Stanford University is charging full-time undergrads $17,619 each quarter or $52,857 annually. Summer Quarter tuition costs $1,127 per unit taken. Mandatory student fees are $1,905 each year. Living at the Santa Clara County campus’ dorms like Lagunita Court adds $16,433 for room and board. Stanford budgets $1,245 for books and $2,130 for personal expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals about $74,570 on-site. Graduate programs generally bill full-time students $17,493 per quarter. Part-time graduate study incurs $1,166 per unit. The MBA program is one exception costing $24,354 by quarter. School of Medicine M.D. cohorts spend $20,078 each quarter. The Law School is priced $20,725 quarterly.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Montag Hall at 355 Galvez Street connects 59 percent of full-time Stanford Cardinals to tuition assistance averaging $47,106 each for $197.61 million combined. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program covers full tuition for three years of master’s or doctoral study for outstanding post-grads. Since 2015, Stanford has made undergrad tuition-free for students with household income below $125,000. The Horatio Alger Mel Klein Scholarship gifts $2,000 annually to Stanford freshmen meeting the 2.5 GPA minimum. Full-time LGBTQ undergrads with GPAs above 2.5 can receive the $1,500 Markowski-Leach Scholarship. Submitting FAFSA forms coded 001305 will determine federal program, such as Pell Grant and Opportunity Grant, eligibility. Golden State residents also collect up to $9,084 yearly from the Cal Grant.

Explore seven innovative schools conferring 210+ premier degrees ranked third globally by The Wall Street Journal at the Stanford University website.