What eligibility criteria do I need to meet for undergraduate or graduate admission at Stanford?
For undergraduate admission, Stanford requires ACT or SAT scores with no minimum score, and recommends but does not require a rigorous high school curriculum. For graduate admission, you need a US bachelor's degree or equivalent and an approved English proficiency test unless exempt.
Stanford's admission criteria vary by course level. For undergraduate study, ACT or SAT scores are required (with no minimum score) and a rigorous high school course load is recommended, while graduate study needs a US bachelor's degree or equivalent. Check the official admissions pages for the current rules before you apply.
Stanford Eligibility by Level
| Level | Listed criteria |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate: test scores | ACT or SAT scores required; no minimum score |
| Undergraduate: course load | About five academic courses each semester recommended; no set required courses |
| Undergraduate: subjects | Recommended, not required: English, mathematics, social studies, science and world language |
| Graduate: degree | A US bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree from a university outside the US |
| Graduate: English | An approved English proficiency test, unless exempt (for example, English is your first language) |
Points to Check Before You Apply
- Requirements vary according to the course level, so read the page for your specific programme.
- Test policies and English proficiency rules can change, so confirm them on Stanford's official website.
- Eligibility is only the starting point, as the admission committee reviews the application as a whole.
My Advice
Use these criteria as a minimum checklist rather than a guarantee. Confirm the current requirements for your exact programme and start your test preparation early so your scores are ready before the deadline.
This information is available on: admission.stanford.edu, gradadmissions.stanford.edu
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