What the funding covers
- Need-based aid that meets your family's full demonstrated need, as Stanford calculates it.
- Aid is based on your family's own financial circumstances. The income levels Stanford publishes for US families (no parent contribution below $100,000, tuition covered below $150,000) may not apply to families living outside the United States.
- No merit scholarships, apart from a limited number of athletic scholarships.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Application fee: $100 | You, unless Stanford grants a fee waiver |
| Tuition, room and board | Your family, less Stanford's need-based aid, which meets the full demonstrated need it calculates |
| ACT or SAT | You |
Who can apply
- International first-year applicants. Fluency in English is a prerequisite, but no English test is required.
- You must say on your application that you will apply for financial aid: international students who do not cannot apply for aid at any point in their four years at Stanford.
- ACT or SAT scores are a required part of the first-year application.
Which nationalities can apply
Every nationality can apply.
Documents you will need
- The Common Application.
- ACT or SAT scores.
- Your request for financial aid, made on the admission application, then the financial aid forms Stanford asks for.
- The $100 application fee or a fee waiver request.
- An arts portfolio, if you choose to send one: it moves your deadline to 15 October or 5 December.
How to apply
- Apply through the Common Application by 1 November for Restrictive Early Action or by 5 January for Regular Decision. Stanford's page gives these dates without a year; with the optional arts portfolio they are 15 October and 5 December.
- Indicate on the application that you will apply for financial aid, then complete the financial aid application Stanford asks for.
- Pay the $100 non-refundable application fee or request a fee waiver.
- Early Action decisions come by mid-December and Regular Decision by early April; admitted students reply by 1 May.
Before you apply: things to know
- Stanford is need-aware for international applicants: asking for aid makes admission more selective, and its aid for international students is limited.
- Decide about aid before you apply. You cannot ask for it later unless your citizenship changes in a way that makes you eligible for US federal aid.
- To receive scholarship money you will need a US Social Security number or an ITIN, though you do not need one to apply.
Common questions
Does Stanford give full scholarships to international students?
Stanford meets the full demonstrated need of every admitted student, whatever their citizenship, with need-based aid. It does not offer merit scholarships, apart from a few athletic awards, and its aid for international students is limited.
Is Stanford need-blind for international students?
No. For international applicants who say they will apply for financial aid, that request is a factor in the admission decision, which makes admission more selective.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for Stanford?
No. Stanford does not require an English proficiency test, but fluency in English is a prerequisite for admission. ACT or SAT scores are required.