Stanford University Tuition Fees: A Comprehensive Guide

Stanford University, renowned for its academic excellence and innovation, attracts students from around the globe. Understanding the financial aspects of attending this prestigious institution is crucial for prospective students and their families. This article provides a detailed breakdown of Stanford's tuition fees, financial aid options, and related expenses.

Undergraduate Tuition

The cost of undergraduate education at Stanford is a significant investment. For the academic year 2024-25, full-time enrollment, defined as 12-20 units per quarter, costs $21,709 per quarter. Tuition rates for the academic year 2025-26 can be found by student classification. Summer session students taking fewer than 12 units pay $1,447 per unit.

Special Registration Statuses for Undergraduates

Stanford offers several special registration statuses that affect tuition rates:

13th Quarter: Undergraduates who have completed at least twelve full-time quarters (fifteen for dual-degree students) may qualify for a reduced tuition rate for their final quarter, with an 8-unit enrollment minimum. Quarterly Tuition for 8 units is $11,576, 9 units - $13,023, 10 units - $14,470, 11 units - $15,917.
Graduation Quarter: Students who have completed all degree requirements and need registration status to graduate may qualify for a graduation quarter with a fee of $150 per quarter.
Permit to Attend for Services Only (PSO): Undergraduates in their terminal quarter completing honors theses, clearing incomplete grades, or requiring registration status may qualify for PSO status, which costs $6,655 per quarter.
Reduced Course Load: Students with an approved reduced course load from the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) may be eligible for adjusted tuition rates.

Graduate Tuition

Tuition rates for graduate programs vary depending on the school and program.

Graduate School (Master's / Doctorate)

For most graduate programs, quarterly tuition for 8-10 units is $13,770, and for 11-18 units, it is $21,180. Each graduate unit above 18 costs $1,412 per unit. The summer-only rate for 1-7 units is $1,377 per unit.

Read also: Annual Student Loan

Graduate School of Engineering

Engineering graduate students face slightly higher tuition rates. Quarterly tuition is $14,660 for 8-10 units and $22,562 for 11-18 units. Each engineering unit above 18 costs $1,504 per unit, and the summer rate for 1-7 units is $1,466 per unit.

Graduate School of Business (GSB)

The MBA program at the Graduate School of Business has its own tuition structure. The first year costs $28,585 per quarter, and the second year costs $27,485 per quarter. The MSx: M.S. in Management for Experienced Leaders program has an annual tuition of $148,872, covering four quarters.

School of Medicine (SoM)

The MD program at the School of Medicine costs $23,221 per quarter. Each unit above the quarterly maximum costs $1,548 per unit. There is also a Medical School Research Rate of $3,858 per quarter available under certain eligibility.

Stanford Law School

Tuition for Stanford Law School is $25,818 per quarter, while the Law/GSB Joint Program costs $26,118 per quarter.

Special Registration Statuses for Graduate Students

Graduate students also have access to special registration statuses:

Graduate Part-time Enrollment (3-7 units): Students needing only 3-7 units to complete degree requirements or qualify for TGR status may be eligible for part-time enrollment. Tuition rates vary based on the number of units and whether the student is in the general graduate program or the School of Engineering. For 3 units, the graduate quarterly tuition rate is $4,131, and the engineering rate is $4,398. For 4 units, the rates are $5,508 and $5,864, respectively. For 5 units, they are $6,885 and $7,330; for 6 units, $8,262 and $8,796; and for 7 units, $9,639 and $10,262.
Graduate Part-time Enrollment (OAE Accommodation): Graduate students with an approved reduced course load from the OAE may also be eligible for adjusted tuition rates.
Graduation Quarter: Similar to undergraduates, graduate students who have completed all degree requirements may qualify for a graduation quarter with a fee of $150 per quarter.
TGR (Terminal Graduate Registration) / TGR Final Registration: Graduate students working on finishing a thesis, project, or dissertation may qualify for TGR, which costs $4,131 per quarter for students carrying 0-3 units.

Additional Fees and Expenses

Beyond tuition, students should budget for additional fees and expenses.

Mandatory Fees

Campus Health Service Fee: A quarterly fee of $271 is required for all students living in the Bay Area.
Cardinal Care Health Insurance: The quarterly cost is $2,744. Students with alternate insurance can waive this fee by the annual deadline of September 15.

Other Expenses

Room and Board: These costs will vary depending on housing choices and meal plans. For the default meal plan, the prorations are $2,873 for Autumn, $2,569 for Winter, and $2,502 for Spring.
Books and Supplies: These expenses can vary widely depending on the course of study.
Transportation and Personal Expenses: These costs depend on individual lifestyle and commuting needs.

Stanford University estimates the total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, to be $87,833.

Financial Aid

Stanford is committed to making education accessible and meets 100% of its students’ demonstrated financial need.

Need-Based Aid

Need-based financial aid considers a student's financial situation. In fall 2022, 49% of first-year students received need-based financial aid. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students was $70,500. Need-based self-help aid, including federal loans and work-study, averaged $2,850.

Merit-Based Aid

Merit-based aid is awarded for specific talents or academic achievements. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students was $4,700, excluding athletic scholarships.

Read also: Affording ECU

Types of Aid Available

Stanford offers various types of need-based scholarships and grants. Students can also explore federal loans and work-study programs.

Important Dates and Deadlines

For undergraduate students, the first Autumn notification will be sent August 25, 2025 with a due date of September 20, 2025.

Paying Your Bill

It’s critical to review and pay your full balance due each month. Although most quarterly charges post at the beginning of the quarter, other charges and adjustments will post in subsequent months. For fully enrolled students, financial aid is expected to post to student accounts in mid-September. Prior to the posted date, aid will be reflected as “anticipated aid.” Students are responsible for the difference between the full charges and anticipated aid.

Student Loan Debt

Understanding student loan debt is crucial for financial planning. At Stanford University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $12,000. The median monthly federal loan payment (if repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $127. Additionally, 2% of graduating students at Stanford University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $52,263 in private loan debt at graduation. The average total indebtedness of the 2023 graduating class was $21,372, with 13% of graduating students having borrowed any type of loan.

Scholarships

Scholarships are a form of funding that does not require repayment. They can be need-based, merit-based, or awarded based on community service, unique hobbies, personal background, or a parent’s affiliation. Some students receive enough scholarship money to cover tuition and living expenses.

Jobs

Working while in school can help reduce the burden of student loans. Stanford offers work-study programs and campus jobs. Students can find job opportunities through in-person or online job boards.

Tuition Charge Updates During the Add/Drop Period

Up until the add/drop deadline (Final Study List Deadline), when you adjust your enrollment and move into a new tuition bracket, your tuition charges will update automatically within 24-48 hours. After the Final Study List Deadline, there are no tuition reductions for withdrawn courses. For Engineering Grad, GSB, SLS, and SoM students: Waitlisted courses count toward your tuition assessment. If you have requested a Special Registration Status, your tuition will not be updated until the eForm is processed.

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