Is Stanford test optional?

No. Stanford requires an SAT or ACT score from every applicant.

What is Stanford's acceptance rate?

3.6% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 2,067 of 57,326 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 35%, from 42,497 in 2015 to 57,326 in 2024, and Stanford's admit rate went from 5.0% to 3.6%.

What ACT score do you need for Stanford?

21% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 34–36, with a median of 35. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1520–1570 works out to about 34–36.

What GPA do you need for Stanford?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.94 high school GPA, and 97% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

How many students get off the waitlist at Stanford?

57 of the 573 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 10%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Stanford? (Middle 50%: 1520–1570)

First-year students at Stanford who sent an SAT scored 1520–1570, with a median of 1550 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Stanford admits 3.6% of applicants and requires the SAT or ACT.

Stanford University · Stanford, CA

Where your score lands at Stanford

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1520–1570, median 1550

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Stanford is for you and whether to send your score.

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Stanford by the numbers

Admit rate: 3.6%
Middle 50% SAT: 1520–1570
Median SAT: 1550
About on the ACT: 34–36
Sent an SAT: 56%

Test required · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Stanford admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Stanford admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 35%, from 42,497 in 2015 to 57,326 in 2024, and Stanford's admit rate went from 5.0% to 3.6%.

5.0%
3.6%

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	57,326	2,067	3.6%
2023	53,733	2,099	3.9%
2022	56,378	2,075	3.7%
2021	55,471	2,190	3.9%
2020	45,227	2,349	5.2%
2019	47,498	2,062	4.3%
2018	47,452	2,071	4.4%
2017	44,073	2,085	4.7%
2016	43,997	2,118	4.8%
2015	42,497	2,140	5.0%

In fall 2024, 1,693 of the 2,067 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Stanford

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1570Far reachRequired
1570 and upReachRequired

135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Stanford SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	770	790	800
SAT Reading and Writing	750	760	780
SAT total	1520	1550	1570
ACT composite	34	35	36

Of enrolled first-year students, 56% sent an SAT and 21% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.94; 70% of new students reported one
Top 10% of their class: 97%; of new students who reported a rank

Stanford waitlist

Waitlist

669 applicants were offered a spot, 573 took it, and 57 were admitted from it.

10%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Stanford cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $13,807; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 92%
Median earnings: $124,080; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 9,444

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Stanford

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Stanford Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Stanford admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Stanford website
Stanford University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1520–1570, and the median was 1550. At 1550 or higher you're above half of them. Stanford admits 3.6% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$