Admission & test scores

Stanford University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1510–1580 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 35. Stanford University admits 4% of applicants — highly selective. 98% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1510–1580middle half of admits

ACT midpoint35admitted students

Acceptance rate4%highly selective

First-year retention98%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile

1510

Average

1553

75th percentile

1580

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1510 and a quarter above 1580. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 7,554.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

University	Avg SAT	ACT	Acceptance	In-state tuition
Rice University Houston, Texas	1553	35	8%	$64,144
Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey	1553	34	5%	$62,688
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	1553	35	4%	$61,676
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	1553	34	5%	$68,686
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland	1553	—	6%	$65,230
University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois	1554	34	4%	$70,662

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Stanford University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Stanford University?

The middle half of admitted students scored between 1510 and 1580 on the SAT, with an average of 1553. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.

What ACT score does Stanford University require?

The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 35.

How hard is it to get into Stanford University?

Stanford University admits 4% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 98% return for a second year.

Does Stanford University require SAT or ACT scores?

This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.

What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.