Stanford University Scholarships (2025–2026)
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- How Stanford meets 100% of need with no loans
- Family cost ranges by income level
- QuestBridge full-ride scholarships
- FAFSA and CSS Profile deadlines
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~3.9%
- Middle 50% SAT: 1500–1570
- Middle 50% ACT: 33–35
- Average HS GPA: ~4.0 (unweighted)
Source: Stanford Common Data Set 2024–25 and Office of Undergraduate Admission.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
Stanford at a Glance
Last verified: October 24, 2025
Stanford University combines world-class academics with one of the nation’s most generous financial aid programs. The university meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students without loans. Families earning under $100,000 pay nothing for tuition, housing, or meals, while those earning up to $200,000 often receive significant aid depending on assets and family size.
As a long-time QuestBridge partner university, Stanford offers full-ride scholarships to matched students through the National College Match. Aid is entirely need-based, and both U.S. and international students are eligible. Be sure to file the CSS Profile and FAFSA by your admission deadline for full consideration.
FAQ
Does Stanford participate in QuestBridge? Yes. Stanford is a QuestBridge partner offering full-ride scholarships for matched students.
Does Stanford offer merit scholarships? No. All Stanford aid is need-based and automatically awarded.
Does Stanford include loans in aid packages? No. Stanford’s aid is entirely grant-based; no student loans are required.
What’s the average net price? About $18,279 after aid, with families earning under $100K paying $0 total cost.
https://financialaid.stanford.edu/
https://admission.stanford.edu/
https://commondata.stanford.edu/
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=243744
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?243744-Stanford-University
💰 Cost of Attendance at Stanford University
| Expense | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees | $70,206 | $70,206 |
| Housing & Meals | $22,383 | $22,383 |
| Total Direct Costs (before aid) | $92,589 | $92,589 |
Note: Additional estimated expenses — such as books & supplies (~$900), personal expenses (~$3,000), and travel (cost varies) — are not billed directly by Stanford. These vary by student and are excluded from the table for database accuracy.
FAQ: Stanford Cost of Attendance
Who qualifies for the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Veterans or dependents eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level.
How much can it save?
Up to $20,000 per year in matching funds (Stanford + VA), on top of GI Bill tuition coverage.
Do I need to apply separately?
No separate application is needed beyond submitting your VA Certificate of Eligibility and Stanford’s enrollment certification.
Because Stanford’s aid is entirely need-based, all students seeking institutional grants should also submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA each year.
https://financialaid.stanford.edu/
https://studentservices.stanford.edu/my-finances/tuition-fees/undergraduate-tuition
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=243744
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?243744-Stanford-University
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
Stanford does not award automatic, GPA/test-based merit scholarships. All institutional aid is need-based. Families apply through the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, and awards are adjusted annually according to demonstrated financial need. Outside private scholarships can also be applied, with Stanford reducing student work expectations before adjusting its own grant aid.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford Scholarship (need-based grant) | Varies by financial need (often covers full tuition for families under $150k income) | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible undocumented/DACA students; aid based on family income/assets | Yes (FAFSA + CSS Profile) | Yes, re-evaluated annually based on need | Families with incomes under ~$150k often see full tuition covered; those under ~$100k often get full tuition + housing/meal support | Nov 15 (REA/QuestBridge); Jan 15 (RD) |
Stanford is a partner with QuestBridge National College Match, which can provide full scholarships for high-achieving, low-income students who are matched. QB Match financial aid deadlines align with Early Action: Nov 1 requirements for QuestBridge Finalists.
Note: Stanford does not publish automatic GPA/test-score merit tiers. All institutional aid is based on demonstrated need.
Quick FAQ
Do I need to submit test scores for aid? No. Stanford is test-optional, and aid is based on need, not scores. Superscoring is not relevant for financial aid since there is no merit-based award.
How do outside scholarships work? They first reduce the student’s expected work/summer contribution, then may reduce Stanford grant aid if the award is large enough.
Are there priority deadlines? Yes. Submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by the priority deadlines: Nov 15 (REA/QuestBridge) or Jan 15 (Regular Decision).
Stanford Undergraduate Financial Aid – https://financialaid.stanford.edu/
Application Deadlines – https://financialaid.stanford.edu/undergrad/apply/
Aid and Net Price Policy – https://bulletin.stanford.edu/undergraduate-financial-aid/
QuestBridge at Stanford – https://questbridge.org/college-partners/stanford-university/
Quick Deadlines Reference – https://uniplusglobal.com/stanford-university-scholarships-2025/
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Merit)
Stanford does not offer university-run flagship competitive merit scholarships for undergraduates. Institutional funding is entirely need-based. We’re keeping this section (with the competitive-scholarships structure) so families and search engines can quickly confirm there are no Stanford “flagship/elite/competitive” merit awards to pursue outside of need-based aid.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Stanford participates in the QuestBridge National College Match, which can cover full cost for high-achieving, low-income students who are matched.
Quick FAQ (Competitive/Flagship)
Does Stanford offer competitive, GPA/test-based flagship merit? No. Stanford’s institutional aid is need-based only.
Should we still submit the CSS Profile? Yes—many Stanford grants require the CSS Profile (in addition to the FAFSA) to determine need.
Do test scores or superscores matter for Stanford scholarships? Not for institutional funding—there is no merit grid to superscore into. (Admissions remains test-optional.)
What about outside elite scholarships? External awards (e.g., national competitions) can be brought to Stanford and typically reduce student work expectation first before affecting Stanford grant aid.
Stanford Financial Aid & Scholarships – https://financialaid.stanford.edu/
Grant Aid Policy – https://bulletin.stanford.edu/undergraduate-financial-aid/
QuestBridge at Stanford – https://questbridge.org/college-partners/stanford-university/
Scholarship FAQ & Policy – https://uniplusglobal.com/stanford-university-scholarships-2025/
🎖️ Honors College
Stanford does not have a traditional Honors College with its own scholarships. Instead, it offers departmental and interdisciplinary honors programs where undergraduates conduct high-level independent research, usually culminating in a thesis or major project. For motivated students, this is the path to work closely with faculty mentors and earn special recognition at graduation.
GPA in the 3.5+ range, advanced coursework in their major, a faculty sponsor, and a clear plan for a senior thesis or capstone. Many also bring leadership experience in labs, service, or the arts.
- Priority access to small seminars and advanced research opportunities
- Close faculty mentorship on a thesis or creative project
- Eligibility for competitive grants (like VPUE research funding) to cover project costs
- Recognition on diploma and transcript, plus eligibility for university thesis prizes
Competitive Grants & Thesis Awards
| Award | Who/What | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| VPUE Major Grant (Summer) | Undergrads with thesis/creative project for summer ($8,000+) |
Apr 7 |
| Chappell Lougee Scholarship | Arts, humanities, soc sci sophomores; faculty-mentored ($8,000+) |
Mar 31(app); Apr 3 (endorsement) |
| Departmental Honors Application | Varies by department: Anthropology (May 15), Biology (Feb 27), Economics (3rd Wed autumn senior year), History (May 5), Psychology (Apr 15), Earth Systems (Oct 21; Apr 28) | Dept.-specific see department |
| Thesis Medals & University Prizes | Golden/Firestone Medals, Kennedy/other prizes for best thesis (seniors submit after departmental honors/thesis deadline) |
First Mon Week 8, Spring Quarter for most (see department) |
- VPUE Grants: Small Grants (up to $1,500, rolling deadlines) also fund honors projects. Confirm annual updates on VPUE portal.
- Special Thesis Prizes: Department and university prizes have deadlines clustered around late spring; confirm with your department for nomination details.
Quick FAQ
Is admission automatic? No. Students must apply to their department’s honors track or to an interdisciplinary program with a proposal and faculty support; deadlines vary by department.
Does it add time to the degree? No. Honors fits into the four-year plan; thesis deadlines usually in senior spring.
Are there scholarships tied to Honors? No automatic “scholarships,” but honors students may win VPUE research grants or competitive project prizes.
Disclaimer: VPUE grant amounts reflect 2024–2025 published figures. Stanford will update 2025–26 amounts in November. Families should verify current award levels and deadlines at their department and via the VPUE portal.
Major Grant/Chappell Lougee Deadlines – https://devbio.stanford.edu/vpue-summer-grants/
Chappell Lougee Info/Instructions – https://aarcs.stanford.edu/events/chappell-lougee-scholarship-info-session-qa/
Departmental Honors Examples: Anthropology (May 15) – https://anthropology.stanford.edu/undergrad/capstone-honors/
Biology (Feb 27) – https://biology.stanford.edu/academics/undergrad/honors-program/
Economics (Autumn) – https://economics.stanford.edu/undergraduate/honors/
History (May 5) – https://history.stanford.edu/undergraduate/honors/
Psych (Apr 15) – https://psychology.stanford.edu/undergrad/honors/
Earth Systems (Oct 21/Apr 28) – https://earthsystems.stanford.edu/academics/honors/
Medals & Prizes – https://undergrad.stanford.edu/fellowships-prizes/awards/
⭐ College Specialty
Stanford is an R1 research university with global reach. Families often hear about Silicon Valley connections, but the real story is the breadth of excellence across disciplines—from cutting-edge labs in engineering and biosciences to nationally ranked programs in sustainability and the arts. For first-gen students, these specialties translate into powerful career pipelines and mentorship opportunities.
- Artificial Intelligence & Human-Centered AI (HAI): Home to one of the leading AI research institutes worldwide, bridging technology, ethics, and public policy.
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation (STVP/DFJ): Recognized nationally for entrepreneurship education, feeding into Silicon Valley’s startup ecosystem.
- Biosciences & Bio-X: Cross-disciplinary research hub linking medicine, engineering, and life sciences; Stanford is ranked #4 in Biological Sciences nationally (U.S. News 2023–24).
- Sustainability (Doerr School): Stanford’s newest school, ranked among the top climate and environmental research programs, with strong ties to policy and industry.
📎 Official Links
- Stanford University Homepage
- Stanford Undergraduate Honors Programs
- Stanford Scholarships & Financial Aid