CAMPUS · STANFORD, CA · PRIVATE

Stanford University

3.9%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

19% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating Stanford enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,922
Total Cost of Attendance	$87,833

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$-2,536	$-10,144
$30-48k	$-193	$-772
$48-75k	$3,212	$12,848
$75-110k	$11,092	$44,368
$110k+	$53,882	$215,528

Financial Aid & Student Debt at Stanford University

19.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$12,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Is Stanford University Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$124,080

Median Earnings (10yr)

$12,000

Median Debt

10.3x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. Stanford University — 10.3x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

Stanford University True Cost by Family Income

19% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating Stanford enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$-2,536	$-10,144
$30-48k	$-193	$-772
$48-75k	$3,212	$12,848
$75-110k	$11,092	$44,368
$110k+	$53,882	$215,528

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,922
Total Cost of Attendance	$87,833

Financial Aid & Student Debt

19.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$12,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$102,887

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

Stanford University Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does Stanford University actually cost per year?

Stanford University's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $87,833/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $13,091/yr, a 85% discount off sticker price.

Does Stanford University offer good financial aid?

19% of Stanford University students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including Stanford University also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if Stanford University requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at Stanford University?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $-2,536/yr at Stanford University after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $53,882/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is Stanford University worth the cost?

Stanford University graduates earn a median of $124,080 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $351,332 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.