Stanford Housing Costs

$13,590 On-Campus Room Typical Cost

$7,735 On-Campus Meals Typical Cost

$825 Books & Supplies Typical Cost

$4,602 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What is the Cost of Living at Stanford?

Make the best college choice by understanding the true cost of college. Start by understanding the yearly costs at Stanford University.

On this page you will find:

Outline of Housing Costs
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Housing and Meal Plan Costs at Stanford

Housing and meal plans are priced out separately here. The standard student paid $13,590 in 2026, and a standard meal plan cost $7,735. Taken together, a typical student living on campus at Stanford University faced a yearly bill of about $31,584 in 2026 across housing, dining, books and other living expenses.

Get an idea of what the costs will be for on-campus housing, meals and other expenses at Stanford University.

Expense	On Campus
Room and Board	$26,157
— Housing	$13,590
— Meals	$7,735
Other Living Expenses	$4,602
Books and Supplies	$825
Total	$31,584

Room & Board Over Four Years? Estimated Four-Year Cost: $147,068

Tuition is not the only college cost that climbs each year — room and board does too. Looking at the trend gives you a realistic picture of what you will actually spend by graduation.

The projected four-year total comes to about $147,068 in room, board and other essentials.

Below is how room and board has changed across recent reported years — and where current trends point — at Stanford University.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$21,424
Two Years Ago	$22,396
One Year Ago	$24,524
Most Recent Year (2026)	$26,157
One Year From Now *	$28,083
Two Years From Now *	$30,151
Three Years From Now *	$32,371
Four Years From Now *	$34,755

* estimated

Over the reported period, on-campus housing and dining changed about 7.4% each year. If current trends continue, incoming first-year students would pay about $33,510 in their first year.

Projected forward, the last year of a four-year degree runs about $40,182 for a bachelor’s degree, while a two-year (associate) student would pay around $35,578 in their second and final year.

Across all four years, on-campus living costs would total approximately $147,068 for a bachelor’s, while two years would run about $69,088 for a two-year (associate) degree.

Build In Yearly Cost Growth

Housing and dining costs creep up most years, so plan on paying somewhat more each year of your degree.

Living and Dining on Campus at Stanford

Not all meal plans work the same way. This school structures its plans by meals per week, and the table below lists the largest plan offered. Curious about campus housing? The table below summarizes the on-campus living details for this school.