College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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Can You Afford Stanford University?

Concerned about paying for college? Take a look at Stanford’s financial aid options, including grants, scholarships, and student loans, then calculate the net price based on your income level to determine if you can afford to attend this school.

2020 - 2021 Costs Between $5,244 and $78,218

Feeling a little stressed about paying $78,218 to attend Stanford University each year? This number can be deceiving, and for many, the net price you pay will be less.

While there is no tuition reduction for California students, 55.9% of freshmen receive some form of financial aid, with the average amount totaling $54,808. Students from low-income families receive an average of $72,974 in aid during their first year.

Cost (no aid)

Tuition and fees$56,169
+ Room and board$17,255
+ Other expenses$4,794
Total cost$78,218
Affordability Score (1 out of 100)
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Net Price (with average aid)

Total cost$78,218
- Grants and scholarships$54,808
Net price$23,410
Affordability Score (50 out of 100)
more expensive
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Average Net Price for Low Income Undergraduates

Total cost$78,218
- Grants and scholarships$72,974
Net price$5,244
Affordability Score (99 out of 100)
more expensive
less expensive

Learn more about tuition and fees, room, board and other expenses, and financial aid options at Stanford.

Projected Costs Between $14,288 and $489,716 For a Four Year Degree. Between $7,940 and $236,155 For a Two Year Degree.

Looking at the total projected cost of a college education over the course of two / four (or more) years can feel a little overwhelming. However, doing so will help better prepare you for the financial commitment you are making.

The overall cost for on-campus students to attend Stanford in 2020 - 2021 was $78,218. To calculate future costs, we looked at the prior five years of data and determined that this cost increased an average of 3.6% each year. If this trend continues, we expect the full cost for incoming freshmen to be $83,983 during their first year. By their senior year, that cost will be approximately $93,438 for a bachelor degree candidate ($87,024 for an associate degree candidate) for a total of $354,619 over the course of four years ($171,007 over the course of two years). These numbers do not take into consideration financial aid, which reduces this overall cost by varying amounts per student.

Remember, the full costs quoted above are not what most students will pay, and the net price varies quite a bit based on individual circumstances.

Average Net Price at Stanford University

Cost With Interest

The tables below outlines how the overall degree net cost can vary depending on your situation. This table also highlights the impact student loans can have on the overall cost of college.

Projected 2-Year Net CostsLow Income w/ Aidw/ Average AidNo Aid
Annual growth rate*4.2%3.6%
Freshman year$4,192$25,393$83,983
Senior year$3,748$26,447$87,024
Total 2-year net price$7,940$51,841$171,007
10-year loan interest @ 6.8%$3,025$19,749$65,147
Total monthly payment$91$597$1,968
Total amount paid$10,965$71,590$236,155
Projected 4-Year Net CostsLow Income w/ Aidw/ Average AidNo Aid
Annual growth rate*4.2%3.6%
Freshman year$4,192$25,393$83,983
Senior year$2,996$28,688$93,438
Total 4-year net price$14,288$108,073$354,619
10-year loan interest @ 6.8%$5,443$41,172$135,097
Total monthly payment$164$1,244$4,081
Total amount paid$19,731$149,245$489,716

Visit net price and financial aid to learn more about the total cost of attending Stanford University.

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