Stanford University Overview
Stanford University is one of the largest campuses in the United States and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious universities globally.
Founded in 1885 and opening its doors in 1891, Stanford began as a co-educational and non-denominational private institution.
Located less than an hour’s drive south of San Francisco, right next to Palo Alto in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, Stanford is renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit.
This spirit has roots dating back to the post-World War II era, when the provost championed innovation, ultimately leading to the development of the self-sufficient industry we now know as Silicon Valley.
By 1970, Stanford had established a linear accelerator and was part of the early network that laid the technical foundation for the internet.
The main campus stretches across 8,180 acres, housing almost all of the university’s undergraduates.
There are over 700 buildings on campus, home to 40 departments across three academic schools and four professional schools, along with 18 independent labs, centers, and institutes.
Stanford is proud to have 21 Nobel laureates among its faculty, students, and alumni, alongside countless notable figures in business, politics, media, sports, and technology.
The 31st President of the U.S., Herbert Hoover, was a member of Stanford’s very first class and earned a degree in geology in 1895. The university has also become one of the top producers of U.S. Congress members.
Stanford’s alumni include 30 living billionaires, 17 astronauts, 18 Turing Award recipients, and two Fields Medalists.
Notably, Google’s co-founders met at Stanford while pursuing their doctorates, although neither completed their theses.
Stanford-affiliated companies generate over $2.7 trillion annually, making it the equivalent of the 10th largest economy in the world. These companies include names like Nike, Netflix, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Instagram, Snapchat, PayPal, and Yahoo.
Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, earned her undergraduate degree in physics from Stanford in 1973 before making her historic space journey a decade later.
Between 2007 and 2012, Stanford set out to raise $4 billion in a fundraising campaign. The campaign ultimately exceeded this target, raising $6.2 billion, which is being used to expand faculty, fund graduate research fellowships and scholarships, and construct 38 new or renovated campus buildings.
Some of the funding has already gone into major projects such as the world’s largest dedicated stem cell research facility, a new business school campus, an expansion of the law school, a new Engineering Quad, and an art museum and campus concert hall.
Stanford’s unofficial motto, “Die Luft der Freiheit weht,” is a German phrase that translates to “the wind of freedom blows.”
Rankings
- World University Rankings 2025: 6th
- Arts and Humanities: 4th
- Business and Economics: 3rd
- Medical and Health: 6th (tied)
- Computer Science: 5th
- Education Studies: 1st
- Engineering: 2nd
- Law: 1st
- Life Sciences: 5th
- Physical Sciences: 2nd (tied)
- Psychology: 1st
- Social Sciences: 3rd
Key Stats (as of 2025):
- Overall Score: 97.2
- Teaching: 97.5
- Research Environment: 97.3
- Research Quality: 99.6
- Industry: 100
- International Outlook: 85.1
- Student Enrollment: 16,963
- Student-Staff Ratio: 5.9:1
- International Students: 23%
Notable Alumni & Achievements
- 30 living billionaires
- 17 astronauts
- 18 Turing Award winners
- Two Fields Medals recipients
- Numerous high-profile business leaders and public figures
Subjects Taught at Stanford University:
- Arts and Humanities: Archaeology, Art, Performing Art and Design, History, Philosophy, and Theology, Languages, Literature, and Linguistics
- Business and Economics: Accounting, Finance, Business and Management, Economics, Econometrics
- Computer Science
- Education Studies
- Engineering: Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace
- Law
- Life Sciences: Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Veterinary Science
- Medical and Health: Medicine, Dentistry, Other Health
- Physical Sciences: Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Physics
- Psychology
- Social Sciences: Communication, Media Studies, Politics, International Studies, Sociology