Stanford University
Stanford, California · Private Nonprofit · 3.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 99/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Stanford University scores 99 out of 100. Despite $65,910 sticker tuition, the median net price across all students is only $13,807. Low-income students under $30,000 in family income actually receive more in aid than tuition costs, yielding a negative net price of -$2,536 - they get paid, in effect, to attend. Average earnings at six years are $92,800, rising to a median $124,080 at 10 years. The payback period is 2.2 years. That is not a typo. Median debt is $12,000. The completion rate is 91.9%. The admissions rate is 3.6%. Among the 293 Computer Science graduates per year, median earnings after four years hit $214,907. Stanford is not a value play in the usual sense; it is genuinely exceptional. The financial outcomes justify the selectivity.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 2.2 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Stanford University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $65,910/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $65,910/yr |
| Average net price | $13,807/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $55,228 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $124,080 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $92,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $127 |
| Estimated payback period | 2.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,554 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $65,910/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $13,807/year, or roughly $55,228 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of -$2,536/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $53,882/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $12,000, which works out to about $127 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($92,800) and comes to 0.13, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | -$2,536 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | -$193 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $3,212 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,092 |
| $110,001+ | $53,882 |
Low-income students may receive more in grants than the cost of attendance, resulting in a negative net price.
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Stanford families earning under $30,000 receive more in grants than the school costs - the net price is -$2,536. Stanford's endowment fully funds attendance and provides living expenses. A low-income student admitted to Stanford faces essentially zero financial barrier. The outcome - $92,800 average at six years and $12,000 median debt - represents transformational financial mobility.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays -$193 per year (essentially free). The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $3,212. The $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $11,092. The cost slope is gentle - Stanford remains highly affordable through the $110k income range. Middle-income families who have a student admitted to Stanford face almost no financial sacrifice relative to the earning outcome.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110k+) pay $53,882 per year - substantial. But against average earnings of $92,800 at six years and a 2.2-year payback period, even full-paying families recoup the investment quickly. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.129 means even full-paying students carry modest debt relative to their earnings. For high-income families, Stanford's price is reasonable given the outcome.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Stanford University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $214,907 | A |
| Human Biology | $81,529 | A |
| Economics | $112,700 | A |
| Engineering, Other | $115,206 | A |
| Cognitive Science | $131,650 | A |
| International Relations | $59,297 | A |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $91,075 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | $117,072 | - |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $100,788 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $82,036 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
With 293 graduates per year, first-year median earnings of $138,613, and four-year earnings of $214,907, the financial return is extraordinary. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.075 is the result of minimal debt ($10,399 median) against massive earnings. Stanford CS graduates have disproportionate placement in technology firms, venture-backed startups, and quantitative finance. The Stanford brand in Silicon Valley is uniquely powerful - alumni networks, faculty connections, and research proximity create career acceleration unavailable elsewhere. An A grade reflects understated ROI given that four-year earnings are multiples of the total four-year cost for most students.
Economics
Economics is the second-largest program at Stanford by graduate count with 112 per year. Stanford Economics shows first-year earnings of $98,104 and four-year earnings of $112,700. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.127 with an A grade. Economics graduates at Stanford typically move into finance, consulting, policy, and technology firms. The quantitative rigor of Stanford Economics provides strong preparation for roles at major investment banks, management consulting firms, and graduate programs in economics, law, or business. For non-CS students, Economics is one of the strongest ROI paths at the school.
Cognitive Science
Cognitive Science at Stanford has first-year earnings of $105,695 and four-year earnings of $131,650, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.076. The program sits at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, and computer science, and Stanford's location and research environment channel graduates into AI, user research, product management, and human-computer interaction roles. The 83 graduates per year have access to Stanford's tech-industry connections. The A grade reflects that the Stanford environment converts an interdisciplinary degree into high-value career outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 91.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 89.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Stanford University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 3.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 34-35 |
| Enrollment | 7,554 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $25,198 |
With a 3.6% admissions rate and SAT math 25th-75th of 770-800, Stanford selects from the top fraction of the academic distribution. The 25th percentile is 770. ACT composite runs 34-35. Applicants need near-perfect test scores plus exceptional achievements, leadership, and fit with Stanford's research mission. The admissions process considers factors beyond academics, but below approximately 760 SAT math the statistical odds are extremely low.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The school's payback period is 2.2 years and its CS program earnings are $214,907 at four years.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University (this school) | 99 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| University of Chicago | 98 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| Yale University | 97 | $23,777 | $100,533 |
| Harvard University | 96 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
Stanford admits 3.6% of applicants. SAT math runs 770-800 and reading 740-780; ACT composite runs 34-35. The application pool that gets admitted is exceptional by any academic measure. The school serves students who have demonstrated both academic excellence and significant extracurricular achievement. The 19.2% Pell rate means Stanford actively recruits and fully funds low-income students. Students from any background who gain admission receive financial packages that match their need.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Stanford University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $55,228 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $124,080 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 2.2 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 91.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $12,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $92,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.13: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Stanford University: Common Questions
Is Stanford University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Stanford University pays off. It scores 99/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,807 a year after aid ($55,228 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $124,080 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 2.2 years to earn back.
How much does Stanford University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,807 a year, or roughly $55,228 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Stanford University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $124,080 ten years after enrolling, roughly $82,280 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Stanford University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 2.2 years for Stanford University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Stanford University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $12,000, against average earnings of $92,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.13. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Stanford University?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.