Understanding Stanford's Tuition, Room, and Board Costs
For students considering higher education, understanding the costs associated with attending a university is crucial. This article provides a detailed breakdown of tuition, room and board, and other fees at Stanford University, offering insights into financial aid options and how to manage expenses effectively.
Tuition Costs at Stanford University
The Stanford Board of Trustees sets tuition rates annually. For the 2025-26 academic year, the tuition rate for families who pay full tuition is $67,731, reflecting a 4% increase. It's important to note that tuition and fees are often referred to as the sticker price. Stanford University's tuition is $68,544, making it more expensive compared to the national average cost of tuition of $46,950.
Graduate Tuition
General graduate tuition will also increase by 4%. However, for the majority of graduate students, their tuition will continue to be fully covered by fellowships, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships. Some professional programs may experience different adjustments.
Tuition exceptions
Tuition exceptions may also be made for illness, disability, pregnancy, new-parent relief, or other instances at the discretion of the University.
Room and Board Expenses
In addition to tuition, students need to factor in the cost of room and board. Standard room and board charges at Stanford will total $22,167 for the 2025-26 academic year. Graduate student housing costs will rise by a weighted average of 4% for the 2025-26 academic year, with monthly rent varying by unit type and floor plan.
Read also: Stanford Admission GPA Guide
On-Campus Housing
Approximately 97 percent of undergraduates live in university housing, with the exception of students studying abroad during the academic year. All freshmen are required to live in on-campus residences during their first year and are automatically assigned housing following admission. Residence assignments for continuing undergraduates are made on the basis of an annual lottery, called the Draw, and quarterly assignment rounds.
Approximately 66 percent of matriculated graduate students live in housing provided by R&DE Student Housing, both on campus and off campus. Residence assignments are made on the basis of an annual lottery and quarterly assignment rounds.
Meal Plans
Residents of designated university residence halls are required to participate in an R&DE Stanford Dining Meal Plan. All freshmen and upperclass students living in the above houses can choose an R&DE voluntary meal plan which offers expanded flexibility and numerous options for on campus use. Residents of Yost, Murray, and EAST have a dedicated row meal plan. Students are allowed to switch meal plans up until the last two weeks of the quarter. Meal plans are billed on a quarterly basis, and the cost is determined by the number of service days in each quarter. Cardinal Dollars do not expire and carry over from year to year as long as you are enrolled as a student. The remaining Meal Plan Dollar balance carries over at the end of each quarter and can be used throughout the academic year as long as the student is enrolled in a meal plan.
Total Cost of Attendance
When comparing the costs of different institutions, it's crucial to consider the total cost, which includes the sticker price, food and housing, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. At Stanford University, the total cost is $92,892.
Understanding Financial Aid at Stanford
Stanford is committed to making education accessible. Many families with higher incomes also receive need-based aid depending on their financial circumstances. Stanford’s financial aid program ensures that most undergraduate students graduate debt free.
Read also: Explore Stanford
Need-Based Aid
Nearly half of undergraduates receive need-based aid and should expect to see no change to their costs, provided their family financial circumstances have not changed. Approximately one-third of undergraduate families will pay nothing toward tuition in 2025-26 under Stanford’s financial aid policy, in which Stanford requires no parental contribution toward tuition from families with incomes under $150,000 and typical assets.
Families of Stanford undergraduates with annual incomes below $100,000 and typical assets pay no tuition, room, or board. In the fall of 2023, 45% of first-year students received need-based financial aid. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Stanford University was $72,000. Stanford University met 100% of its students’ financial aid need.
Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,070.
Merit-Based Aid
Merit-based aid, also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Stanford University - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $4,000.
Student Loan Debt
How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate. 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 it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $127. Additionally, 3% of graduating students at Stanford University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $55,384 in private loan debt at graduation. In the 2023-24 academic year, 88% of undergraduates graduated without debt, and those who borrowed graduated with a median debt of $13,723.
Read also: Navigating Stanford Scholarships
The average total indebtedness of the 2024 graduating class was $26,815, with 12% of graduating students having borrowed any type of loan.
Scholarships
Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation. Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.
Jobs and Work-Study Programs
Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job. Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.
Additional Fees and Charges
Beyond tuition and room and board, students should be aware of other potential fees and charges.
Document Fee
A Document Fee of $250 is assessed once upon the first admission to Stanford as an undergraduate or graduate student, including Law, GSB, and Medicine students.
Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) Fees
The Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) fees are established by student vote in Spring Quarter. Fees directly fund activities of student organizations and not operations of ASSU. Undergraduates pay $100 in Autumn Quarter, while graduate students pay $35 in Autumn Quarter. ASSU fees are assessed in Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters and can be waived subject to certain conditions.
Campus Health Service Fee
All students enrolled on the main Stanford campus are required to pay the Campus Health Service Fee. The Campus Health Service Fee covers most of the services provided by Vaden Health Center, including primary care medical visits, psychological evaluation and short-term therapy at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and health and wellness programs. The services provided by Vaden Health Center are not covered by Cardinal Care or a student's private health insurance. The quarterly fee is $271.
Cardinal Care Health Insurance
The University requires all registered students to carry medical insurance to provide coverage for services not provided by Vaden Health Center. Those who carry medical insurance through an alternate carrier are generally eligible for a waiver of the Stanford Cardinal Care health insurance plan. The quarterly fee is $2,744.
Late Fees and Payment Information
By accepting Stanford's offer of admission and enrolling in classes, each student accepts responsibility for paying all debts to the University, including tuition and fees, for which he or she is liable. An individual's registration as a Stanford student constitutes his or her agreement to make timely payment of all amounts due. Stanford's standard method of payment is the online service, Stanford ePay, which includes electronic check (eCheck) and foreign currency payment options. Stanford ePay foreign currency payment options offer students favorable exchange rates and eliminate bank fees typically charged for wire transfer. Stanford uses Direct Deposit to refund credit balances to students.
The University must receive the full amount due on or before the due date indicated on the bill. If full payment is not received by the due date, a late fee of 1% of the amount past due may be assessed. Accounts that become past due more than 30 days are subject to financial holds. A non-refundable $25.00 administrative fee may be assessed for checks or eCheck payments returned due to insufficient funds. Delinquent accounts may be reported to one or more of the national credit reporting agencies. Severely delinquent accounts may be referred to a collection agency and/or placed in litigation in accordance with sta…
Budget Considerations
The budget is based on the actual cost of tuition, plus an allowance for other fees that students are typically charged, a standard amount for housing and a meal plan, and allowances for the typical costs of books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation to and from campus. Books, supplies, personal expenses and transportation costs are estimates of your actual expenses and included for the purpose of determining the full cost of attendance and eligibility for aid, and typically are not charged on the university bill. The amounts are based on a survey of current students and adjusted for inflation. New students (freshmen and transfers) will also need to pay the New Student Orientation Fee ($525) and the Document Fee ($250).
Special Registration Statuses
Undergraduates
Undergraduates who meet the 13th Quarter conditions listed in the "Special Registration Statuses (Undergraduate)" section of this Bulletin may petition one time only to register for a minimum of eight units. Undergraduates may petition to register for Graduation Quarter registration status in the quarter in which they are receiving a degree if they are not using any University resources (including housing), have completed all University requirements, and meet the Graduation Quarter conditions listed in the "Special Registration Statuses (Undergraduate)" section of this bulletin. Graduation Quarter may be permitted one time only.
Coterminal Students
Coterminal students are assigned to either the undergraduate coterminal tuition group or the graduate coterminal tuition group, which dictates whether the student is charged undergraduate or graduate tuition. A coterminal student is subject to graduate tuition assessment and adjustment policies once placed in the coterminal graduate tuition group. Coterminal students are not eligible for undergraduate special registration statuses (with the exception of Graduation Quarter if the student is applying to confer both their undergraduate and graduate degrees in the same quarter). Coterminal students may only be eligible to apply for graduate special registration statuses once their undergraduate degrees have been conferred.
Graduate Students
Matriculated graduate students are expected to enroll for at least eight units during the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters. Schools and departments may set a higher minimum. During the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, matriculated graduate students in most departments may register at the reduced 8-, 9-, or 10-unit tuition rate if their enrollment plans are accepted by their departments. Students in the Stanford Law School, the MBA program in the Graduate School of Business, or the M.D. the tuition associated with a degree in the doctoral/professional category, if the other degree is in the master's category. Those degrees in the doctoral or professional category for tuition purposes are the Ph.D., D.M.A., J.S.D., M.D., and J.D. degrees. Those degrees in the master's category for tuition purposes are the Engineer, M.A., M.S., M.P.P., M.B.A., M.F.A., L.L.M., M.L.S., and J.S.M.
As a general proposition, during the Summer Quarter registration is not required by Stanford University and does not substitute for registration during the academic year. Students are required to be enrolled Summer Quarter if, during that quarter, they will meet any of the criteria listed in the "Enrollment Requirements" section of the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin. Graduate students who do enroll Summer Quarter may reduce their enrollment to a minimum of one unit (charged on a per-unit basis) unless the terms of a fellowship or other financial support, or of their particular degree program, require a higher level of enrollment. TGR students who enroll in summer pay the TGR rate and must enroll in the required zero-unit course. Students in the schools of Law, Business, or the M.D. program should consult appropriate school officers regarding summer enrollment requirements.
Honors Cooperative students register at the per-unit rate. Non-matriculated graduate students pay the same tuition rates as matriculated students but must register for at least 8 units. Visiting Student Researchers pay a monthly fee; they may not enroll in or audit courses.
Each quarter, TGR students must enroll in the 801 (for master's and Engineer students) or 802 (for doctoral students) course in their department for zero units, in the appropriate section for their adviser. TGR students register at a special tuition rate as outlined above. TGR students may enroll in up to 3 units of course work per quarter at this tuition rate. Within certain restrictions, TGR students may enroll in additional courses at the applicable unit rate. Graduate students who need only 3 to 7 remaining units to complete degree requirements or to qualify for TGR status may apply to register for one quarter only on a unit basis (3 to 7 units) to cover the deficiency. Students with disabilities covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act that have an approved reduced course load recommended by the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) may also request a tuition adjustment for each quarter in which they take a reduced course load. Registration is required for the term in which a student submits a dissertation or has a degree conferred.
International Students
International students must be registered as full-time students during the academic year. Summer Quarter registration is not required unless the I-20/DS-2019 notes the Summer Quarter as the start date. International graduate students comply with immigration regulations while enrolled for partial tuition if their Stanford fellowships or assistantships require part-time enrollment, if they are in TGR status, or if they are in the final quarter of a degree program.
Housing Options
University housing is available to enrolled Stanford degree-seeking undergraduates and graduate students and non-matriculated graduate students as space permits and according to policies described on the R&DE Student Housing web site. Residential and Dining Enterprises (R&DE) Student Housing is responsible for managing and maintaining student residences, assigning students to housing, and operating the regional housing front desks. Complete information on housing is available on the R&DE Student Housing web site. All on-campus rates are per student and include utilities and coinless laundry. Off-campus, subsidized housing rates include utilities, but not laundry. Room rates are charged quarterly on the university bill.
Couples housing is available to students who are married and to students who have a same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner who is living with them at least 50% of each week. Housing for students with children is available to married couples, domestic partners, and single parents who have dependent children living with them at least 50% of each week. Housing is not provided for extended families. Community Housing provides resources to assist students in locating private rooms, houses, and apartments available for rent in surrounding communities. Students must make rental arrangements directly with landlords. Note that Stanford University does not investigate, endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of the information provided by any listing, or the condition of the accommodation.
Key Billing Dates and Deadlines
Use this 2025-2026 guide to help you think through charges you might incur and when. Charges are due monthly. Calendar details are available on the Billing Dates & Deadlines page. For undergraduate students, the first Autumn notification will be sent August 25, 2025 with a due date of September 20, 2025.
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 instance, some courses carry additional course fees, which are assessed after enrollment. Other monthly charges may include other IT services, miscellaneous items such as music lessons or practice-room rental fees, room damage/re-key charges, StanfordCardPlan purchases, and changes to the quarterly charges.
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.” You are responsible for the difference between the full charges and your anticipated aid. Your award letter shows the amount of your aid for the year. You can find the quarterly breakdown in Axess following these instructions. If you report your Outside Scholarships to the Financial Aid Office, the amount for the quarter will be reflected as anticipated aid until the actual funds are received and processed (you won’t be charged late fees if you have anticipated aid that covers the remaining balance after the due date).
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