1.1 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.

Each year, in conformance with the law, Stanford aims to enroll a class with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, talents, academic interests, and ways of viewing the world. The University 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 highly qualified and that represents a variety of perspectives, work and life experiences, and interests is essential to the educational process. This 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 the workforce and national and international communities, and shapes the next generation’s leaders. Applications are encouraged from those who take initiative and responsibility for their education and who would provide additional dimensions to the University and its programs.

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+ first-year students who are admitted for Autumn Quarter enrollment. Approximately 50-75 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. The University practices a need-blind admission policy for U.S. citizens, undocumented students, and U.S. registered permanent residents. Students are admitted without regard to their ability to pay, except in the case of international students who are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. registered permanent residents. Undocumented undergraduate applicants with questions about admission or financial aid should visit the University’s Undocumented at Stanford opens in a new tab website.

Readmitting Undergraduates

A former Stanford undergraduate who has transferred to another university and then wishes to return to Stanford as an undergraduate must apply again for admission in the same way as any other transfer applicant.

Stanford undergraduate students who were originally admitted as first-year (frosh) students, who subsequently transferred out to matriculate full-time at another institution, and later return to Stanford through the transfer admission process (by reapplying through the Office of Undergraduate Admission and accepting an offer of admission), will be subject to the following policies:

1. All Stanford units and courses completed prior to withdrawal will remain on the student’s transcript.

2. All previously posted external test and transfer credits (prior to withdrawal) will remain on the transcript.

3. The student’s Bulletin/requirement year will be updated to the term in which they are readmitted.

4. Students will return as undeclared, regardless of any prior major, minor, or degree program. They must redeclare their programs and will be held to the Bulletin/requirement year in effect at the time of redeclaration.

5. Policies governing the maximum amount of external credit applicable to the Stanford record will follow the first-year admit limit of 45 units and must comply with all current Bulletin rules.

6. Students will be held to the Stanford residency requirement, which mandates that a minimum of 135 units must be completed in residence at Stanford.

7. Students will be eligible for up to eight quarters of Leave of Absence, even if they had previously taken leaves before withdrawing from the University. Special permission from VPUE will be required for a Leave of Absence in the first quarter following readmission.

Application procedures, requirements, and deadlines vary from year to year. Visit the Undergraduate Admission opens in a new tab website for the most recent information, or call the Office of Undergraduate Admission at (650) 723-2091.