Stanford University needs no introduction.
Notorious for its staggeringly low acceptance rate (dropping to a historic low of 3.68% in the year 2022-2023, a statistic that prompted one Reddit user to comment, “4 in 100… you start to wonder if you would pick yourself over 100 people”) is comparable to Ivy League schools like Harvard (3.41% in 2023) and Princeton (3.98% in 2023).
Stanford’s Class of 2027 witnessed an impressive applicant pool, reaching a record high of 53,733 applicants. Out of this pool, 2,099 students received offers of admission, resulting in an admission rate of 3.9%. Stanford has chosen not to release its acceptance rate for the Class of 2028, encouraging applicants to focus on fit rather than selectivity. UPenn admission and acceptance rate
Changing trends
In 2022-23 the university had received 53,733 applicants, which was down from the previous year’s pool of 56,378. The number of students who received offers was 2,099. According to Stanford University’s 2022-2023 Common Data Set, the undergraduate acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 hit a historic low of 3.68%, but surprisingly for the Class of 2027 it went up slightly to 3.91%. One notable change in the Class of 2026 was the record-breaking female representation where women made up approximately 54% of the first-year students, surpassing the previous year’s proportion of 51%. This trend saw a reversal in 2027 where the class had 50.2% women and 49.8% men, a decrease from the Class of 2026.
Geographical Diversity
The Class of 2027 akin to 2026, also exhibited a rich blend of geographical diversity. The admitted students represent all 50 states along with international students from 64 non-U.S. countries. Nearly 28.84% of students admitted, identified as Asians. This global representation fosters a multicultural learning environment and enhances cross-cultural understanding.
Standardized testing
The class is also academically accomplished, with an average SAT score of 1540 and an average ACT score of 35. While Stanford intends to maintain its test-blind policy for applicants to the class of 2025, it will reinstate its standardised testing requirement for Fall 2026.
A diverse student body
The Class of 2027 demographic profile depicts the continuity of the previous year’s admissions cycle, with Asians forming the largest percentage at 28.8% and whites at 21.9%. The Class of 2025 at Stanford University comprises a diverse student body. 51% of the class were women while men represented 49% of the class. The class was truly international, with students hailing from 77 countries and 49 states. Notably, 12% of enrolled students were international citizens from 72 countries, showing an increase from the previous year’s 9.9% from 56 countries.
Comparing this to the previous year, the Class of 2024, Stanford’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2025 decreased from 5.19% to 3.95%. Despite the lower acceptance rate, the yield rate for the Class of 2025 stood at an impressive 80%, excluding the 369 students who had taken a gap year.
Read More: Tips for the Stanford Supplemental Essays
Increased competitiveness
In the 2022-23 admission cycle, 53,733 students applied and only 2,099 received offers, according to Stanford statistics. Analyzing the data, we observe that the acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 is lower than both the Class of 2025 and 2024. While schools like MIT and Caltech attract more STEM-focused students, Stanford has a balance of liberal arts and science, attracting a larger range of applicants and thus contributing to its highly competitive acceptance rate.
The university is committed to admitting students who balance pursuing their academic interests deeply and showing versatility. Involvement in community leadership, for instance, is appreciated.
Working with study abroad consultants, overseas education consultants, or, as more commonly known, college counselors, can help you plan and make those high school years count. We can help you with your college application process. Ivy Central offers exceptional focus to help you prepare for college admissions throughout the high school years. Start today!
