Stanford University
Stanford, California · Founded 1885
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SAT / ACT required
ACT or SAT scores are required. Testing was optional for the Class of 2029 and the requirement has since been reinstated. Source: admission.stanford.edu (verified August 2026).
About
A private research university on a large campus in the San Francisco Bay Area, closely tied to the technology industry around it. Stanford is known for combining engineering, business and the humanities with an entrepreneurial mindset.
History
Founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford in memory of their only child, and opened to students in 1891.
What stands out
- Located in Silicon Valley with deep industry connections
- One of the largest university campuses in the United States by area
- Strong culture of interdisciplinary study and design thinking
- Distinctive sandstone-and-red-tile Mission Revival architecture
Popular majors
Campus life
A sprawling, bike-friendly campus with a mild California climate, extensive athletics, and student housing organized into residences and co-ops. San Francisco is roughly an hour away.