Academics at Stanford University

The Academic Picture

Whats the point of going to college without academics? Below is an overview of academic life at Stanford University — the faculty and staff who teach, the majors and fields of study on offer, and the online and distance options available.

Each topic below links to a dedicated page with the full detail:

• Faculty Resources
• Most Popular Majors
• Additional Questions to Ask
• Continue Your Research

Faculty Resources

At a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, Stanford University offers far more individual attention than the national average of 15 to 1. Stanford University employs 99% of its instructors full time, above the national average of 47%.

For a deeper look at tenure, adjuncts and faculty composition, visit the faculty composition report.

Majors and Fields of Study

Stanford University offers 74 majors with reported completions across 23 broad fields of study.

The degree levels available at Stanford University are shown below:

The most popular majors at Stanford University, measured by graduates, are listed below.

For the complete list of majors, concentrations and graduation numbers, see the academic majors report.

Questions Worth Asking

Before you decide, here are a few more questions to consider about academics at Stanford University:

• Looking for flexibility? Stanford University may offer online or summer classes that can help you finish your degree — 350 undergraduates take at least some classes online. See distance learning options.
• Thinking about graduate school? Consider how many students continue their studies and how well the school retains and graduates its students (98% of full-time freshmen return for a second year). See graduation and retention.
• Will a degree land you a job? Ask how many graduates were employed full time a year after finishing.

Explore Further at Stanford University

Each page below covers one part of academic life at Stanford University in more detail:

• Majors & Degree Programs at Stanford University — the full list of majors, concentrations and graduation numbers
• Faculty & Class Sizes at Stanford University — student-faculty ratio, full-time vs adjunct, and tenure detail
• Graduation & Retention at Stanford University — graduation outcomes and retention detail
• Distance Learning at Stanford University — what online and distance learning is available
• Accreditation at Stanford University — the schools accreditation and what it means