History
Stanford University was founded in 1885 by California senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, “to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization.”
Education
Stanford University is one of the world’s leading research universities. It is known for its entrepreneurial character, drawn from the legacy of its founders, Jane and Leland Stanford, and its relationship to Silicon Valley. Areas of excellence range from the humanities to social sciences to engineering and the sciences. Stanford is located in California’s Bay Area, one of the most intellectually dynamic and culturally diverse areas of the nation.
Research
- From Nobel Prize winners to undergraduates, all members of the Stanford community are engaged in creating new knowledge.
- Stanford’s culture of collaboration drives innovative discoveries in areas vital to our world, our health and our intellectual life.
- Eighteen independent labs, centers and institutes engage faculty and students from across the university.
- At the intersection of disciplines is where new ideas emerge and innovative research happens.
- Academic departments sponsor numerous other research centers and labs.
Career
- With seven schools and numerous other academic and administrative areas, Stanford offers a wealth of rewarding career opportunities.
- At Stanford, we believe that career growth should be personal—tailored to the strengths and ambitions of each person. We also believe that personal growth should be encouraged and supported—so that everyone at Stanford can enjoy a healthy work-life integration. The university provides a host of programs and resources to help employees advance their careers. From career counseling to tuition and training assistance, we encourage you to take full advantage of all the resources Stanford offers to help you grow.
Stanford University Key Statistics & Highlights
- #2 Ranking
- 1 Courses
- 2,235 Academic Staff
- 16,319 Students
- 3,753 Students (int'l)
- 7,507 Students (female)
- Private Institution Type
Student services
The staff here at the Career Development Center is excited to welcome all new students! Find out how to connect with us during new student orientation, whether you are an undergraduate, graduate, transfer, or international student. Welcome To Stanford!The staff here at the Career Development Center is excited to welcome all new students! Here are five ways to connect with us during new student orientation, whether you are an undergraduate, graduate, transfer, or international student. We look forward to connecting with you early and often!
Housing services
About 62 percent of graduate students eligible for housing live in university-provided housing designed for single students, couples and families with children. New graduate students are guaranteed housing their first year on campus when they apply by the spring deadline.
The undergraduate housing system includes 80 diverse facilities. About 25 percent of students join one of the 16 fraternities or 14 sororities recognized on campus. Seven fraternities and three sororities offer housing.
There are 850 owner-occupied housing units for faculty on campus, as well as 628 rental units for faculty and staff.
Library services
- Green is Stanford University's main research library, and has collections in the humanities, social sciences, area studies, and interdisciplinary areas.
- Cecil H. Green Library
- Lathrop Library
- Archive of Recorded Sound
- Art & Architecture Library (Bowes)
- Biology Library (Falconer)
- Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library (Swain)
- Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections (Branner)
- East Asia Library
ICT services
University IT cable modem service gives you access to the Internet at speeds up to 40 Mpbs V and 25 Mpbs ^. The cable modem service does not provide direct network access to Stanford resources, though faculty, staff, and students with a Stanford account (SUNet ID and password) have access to Stanford-licensed materials via web-based authentication or through the use of the Campus VPN service.
Medical services
Stanford Medicine delivers unparalleled care for each patient’s unique needs. Our multidisciplinary approach to health care coordinates deep expertise with the most advanced technology for the best possible outcomes.
Campus life
Stanford University is located on 8,180 acres in the center of the San Francisco Peninsula. Stanford land features 49 miles of roads, two separate water systems, three dams, three open water reservoirs, 88 miles of water mains and a post office. Stanford’s Central Energy Facility utilizes heat recovery and thermal storage to maximize efficiency in the university’s heating and cooling systems. Stanford provides or contracts for its own fire, police and other services. In 2019, phase one of Stanford’s 35-acre Redwood City campus will open and eventually become home to roughly 2,700 Stanford staff. It is located a mile from downtown Redwood City and five miles from Stanford’s main campus.
Sports facilities
Arrillaga Center for Sports & Recreation
- Women's Squash
- Men's & Women's Fencing
- Facility for students, faculty & staff
Avery Aquatic Center
- Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving
- Men's & Women's Water Polo
- Synchronized Swimming
Burnham Pavilion & Ford Center
- Men's and Women's Gymnastics
- Some Men's Volleyball
Student clubs
In general, the 650+ clubs and organizations at Stanford span the following areas:
- Athletic/Recreational
- Careers/Pre-professional
- Community Service
- Ethnic/Cultural
- Fraternities/Sororities
- Health/Counseling
- Media/Publications
- Music/Dance/Creative Arts
- Political/Social Awareness
- Religious/Philosophical
Accreditation
- Our last accreditation review took place in 2013. Documents from this process can be accessed by those with a SUNet ID on the Resources page of this website.
- We are currently preparing for our next accreditation process scheduled for 2022-2023.
Stanford University Overview
Stanford University Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 0.2% United States
Top 0.1% Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
QS World University Rankings
2
By TopUniversities
Climbed 1 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 2 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
3
By U.S. News & World Report
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
No 2027 Ranking
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
No 2026 Ranking
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Stanford University Campus Locations
#1 Main Campus
United States Country
Stanford City
Stanford University Student Reviews & Awards
4.2
Based on 56 reviews
- 5 Star 21 Reviews
- 4 Star 28 Reviews
- 3 Star 4 Reviews
- 2 Star 2 Reviews
- 1 Star 1 Review
How Students Rated This University
- Overall Satisfaction 4.2
- Student Teacher Interaction 4.1
- Student Diversity 4.0
- Admission Process 4.0
- Career Development 4.2
Experience
I had the best experience at Stanford University. My education was so smooth there. I loved the environment and everything there. The lecturers ,the staff, and everyone at large made my university life good
Loving it so far
I am really loving Stanford so far, it's an amazing school to attend. The food is amazing in my opinion, and everybody here is extremely nice and accommodating. The campus is beautiful and there are always interesting talks, events, and opportunities happening throughout the week.
Grateful for my time here
Amazing campus with amazing faculty and incredible individuals. I would definitely send my children here to school as it is a wonderful institution that has shaped me into the individual I am today. I owe a lot to Stanford University and I am grateful to be here right now.
Studied here? Share your experience
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2025
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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Overall SatisfactionHow would you rate your overall study experience?
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Student Teacher InteractionHow helpful were your teachers?
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Student DiversityHow diverse was the atmosphere at your university?
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Admission ProcessHow simple was it to apply to your programme?
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Career DevelopmentDid the university provide support for your career development?
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