Undergraduate Admission

Stanford's undergraduate community is drawn from throughout the United States and the world. It includes students whose abilities, intellectual interests, and personal qualities allow them to benefit from and contribute to the University's wide range of teaching and research programs in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering. The University admits students who love learning for its own sake; who exhibit energy, creativity, and curiosity; and who have distinguished themselves in and out of the classroom.

Stanford welcomes a diverse community that cuts across many dimensions. The University does not use quotas of any kind in its admission process: it does not favor particular schools or types of schools, nor any geographic region, nor does it have any racial, religious, ethnic, or gender-related quotas. The University believes that a student body that is both highly qualified and diverse in terms of factors including (but not limited to) culture, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, work and life experiences, skills, and interests is essential to the educational process. Having a student body that is diverse in many ways (specifically including race and ethnicity) furthers Stanford’s educational mission in that it promotes understanding among those from different backgrounds, contributes to the destruction of stereotypes, prepares students to be positive members of a diverse workforce and national and international communities, and shapes the next generation’s leaders. Applications are encouraged from those take initiative and responsibility for their education and who would provide additional dimensions to the University and its programs.

Citizenship and immigration status are not a condition of admission to Stanford. The University welcomes applications from all students who are ready to make the most of the extraordinary academic opportunities available at Stanford. Undocumented undergraduate applicants with questions about admission or financial aid should visit the University’s Undocumented at Stanford website.

In order to preserve the residential character of the University and to maintain a favorable student-faculty ratio, Stanford has a limited undergraduate enrollment. The anticipated size of the entering class is approximately 1,700+ students who are admitted for Autumn Quarter enrollment. Approximately 20-40 transfer students, entering either the sophomore or junior class, are also typically admitted for Autumn enrollment if space allows. Each year, the University receives many more applications from qualified students than there are places available.

Stanford is committed to meeting the University-computed financial need of each admitted student, and admission decisions are made without regard to the applicant's financial status, except in the case of international students who are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. registered permanent residents.

Application procedures, requirements, and deadlines vary from year to year. See the Undergraduate Admission website for the most recent information; or call the Office of Undergraduate Admission at (650) 723-2091.

Nonmatriculated Study (Undergraduate)

Permission to enroll at Stanford as a nonmatriculated student during Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters is not routinely approved except under extenuating circumstances. Nonmatriculated students authorized to enroll at Stanford University are not admitted to any Stanford degree program and are permitted to register for a specific period, usually one, two, or three quarters. Financial assistance from Stanford University is not available. Permission to enroll as a nonmatriculated student does not imply subsequent admission as a matriculated student.

Nonmatriculated status is a privilege and not a right. The University reserves the right, at its discretion, to withhold registration from, or require withdrawal for the program by, any student or applicant. In addition, nonmatriculated status may be revoked at the University's discretion (and after consideration of such factors as the University considers relevant in the particular case) at the end of any quarter of enrollment.

Students interested in nonmatriculated status during the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters should contact the Office of the University Registrar, not the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Note: newly admitted Stanford students (that is, those admitted to a Stanford degree program) are not eligible to enroll for nonmatriculated study for any quarter, except with the permission of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (or his or her designee) under extenuating circumstances.

High School Nonmatriculated Students

Local high school students are eligible to be considered to attend Stanford as nonmatriculated students on a limited basis when they have exhausted all of the courses in a given discipline offered by their high school. Nonmatriculated high school students are permitted to enroll in one course per quarter and are required to pay the applicable tuition. Permission from the academic department and the University Registrar is required. The Language Center does not allow high school students to enroll in language courses during the academic year. High school students who are accepted to participate in High School Summer College may enroll in language courses as part of Summer Session, space permitting.

Summer Session

Students wishing to enroll as nonmatriculated students during Summer Quarter should contact the Summer Session Office for more information about the Summer Visitor Program. Admission to the Summer Visitor Program does not imply regular admission to Stanford for subsequent quarters or to one of Stanford's regular degree programs.