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Is Stanford University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Stanford, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Affordable
Stanford lands in the affordable band for a typical family. Graduates earn a median of $124,080 ten years after enrolling, and that makes the median debt of $12,000 more manageable than it looks at first glance. For context, Stanford's net price is about 21% below the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. On the numbers alone, this school clears the bar comfortably.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$17,998
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $4,839 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $19,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
Graduation and earnings data create a stronger long-run payoff picture.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$13,807
Median earnings 10 years out
$124,080
Median debt at graduation
$12,000
Graduation rate
92%
At Stanford, a typical graduate carries about $12,000 in student debt and earns roughly $124,080 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $136 per month, or 1% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Stanford is a private nonprofit four year school in Stanford, CA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Fresno Pacific
Fresno, CA
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $13,630
Private nonprofit 4-year
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA
Worth-It Score: 78/100
Median net price: $18,260
Private nonprofit 4-year
Touro University Worldwide
Los Alamitos, CA
Worth-It Score: 41/100
Median net price: $19,058
Private nonprofit 4-year
Pomona
Claremont, CA
Worth-It Score: 90/100
Median net price: $19,285
Private nonprofit 4-year
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $20,161
Common questions about Stanford
The median net price at Stanford is $13,807 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in California? See the most affordable private colleges in California →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →