Stanford University

About Stanford University

Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the fourth best university in the country for 2010, Stanford University has long been ranked among the world's elite academic institutions. The school's current faculty consists of 16 Nobel laureates and four Pulitzer Prize winners. Notable alumni include former president Herbert Hoover, author John Steinbeck, businessman Charles Schwab and actress Jennifer Connelly, among many others.

Founded in 1885, Stanford serves approximately 15,000 students today. Two thirds of them live on campus.

Admissions and Enrollment Information

Stanford has some of the slimmest admissions rates in the country: In 2008, the school accepted only 9.5% of all undergraduate applicants. In addition to standardized test scores and high school transcripts, prospective students must provide short essays and other written material. The university admits students only in the fall semester.

Schools of Stanford University

School of Business

Created in 1925, Stanford's School of Business offers graduate students master's and doctoral degrees. The school emphasizes four core components throughout its curriculum--leadership, entrepreneurship, global awareness and social innovation. For 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked it as the nation's second-best business school.

School of Earth Sciences

The School of Earth Sciences, established in 1947, features both undergraduate and graduate programs. It includes four academic departments (energy resources engineering, geophysics, geological and environmental sciences and environmental earth system science) and three interdisciplinary programs (earth, energy and environmental sciences; environment and resources; and earth systems). .

School of Education

Stanford's School of Education awards nine master's degrees and 21 doctoral degrees. Though it doesn't offer an undergraduate degree, the school features an education minor and honors coursework for baccalaureate students. Founded in 1917, the school welcomed 432 graduate students in the 2009-2010 academic year.

School of Engineering

Another elite institution, Stanford's School of Engineering ranked second-best in the nation in U.S. News and World Report's 2010 edition. The school gives bachelor's, master's, doctoral and engineering degrees across nine departments (including aeronautics, mechanical engineering and computer science) and six interdisciplinary programs (including architecture design, energy resources engineering and engineering physics). Diversity is an important part of the school: As of fall 2008, 55% of American undergraduate students and 32% of American graduate students belonged to ethnic minority groups.

School of Humanities and Sciences

The School of Humanities and Sciences grants almost 80% of Stanford's undergraduate degrees and 40% of its doctoral degrees, making it the largest division at the university. With 28 academic departments and 19 interdisciplinary programs, the school offers education in the hard sciences, humanities and fine arts. The faculty currently includes four Pulitzer Prize winners and five Nobel laureates.

School of Law

The School of Law awards master's degrees in four areas and JDs in nine areas, including constitutional law, environmental law and criminal justice. For 2010, U.S. News and World Report named Stanford's School of Law the third best in the nation. Only 30% of the class of 2010 came directly from college.

School of Medicine

The western United States' oldest medical school, Stanford's School of Medicine consists of nearly 30 departments and five institutes. In addition to MDs, the school offers master's degrees in areas like biomedical informatics, human genetics and epidemiology and Ph.D.s in areas like bioengineering, immunology and neuroscience. The school currently employs approximately 800 faculty members.

Contact Information

• Address: 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305
• Phone Number: (650) 723-2300