Stanford Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Stanford admitted 2,302 students out of 60,646 applicants for the Class of 2029, resulting in a 3.80% acceptance rate. While this marks a modest increase from the record-low 3.61% recorded for the Class of 2028, it remains one of the lowest in the university’s history.

While Stanford has already welcomed its Class of 2030, complete admissions results have not yet been released. As with previous cycles, the university does not publicly disclose Restrictive Early Action (REA) or Regular Decision (RD) data, and overall admissions figures will be published later through its finalized Common Data Set.

In this blog, we’ll break down Stanford’s latest available overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and explore how they have changed over time.

• Stanford Acceptance Rates
• Stanford Early Action Acceptance Rate
• Stanford Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Stanford Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Stanford Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Stanford Acceptance Rates

Stanford’s most recent overall admissions data show a 3.80% acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, with 2,302 students admitted from 60,646 applicants. This marks a modest increase from the 3.61% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028, driven by a slight rise in the number of admitted students even as applications surged to an all-time high.

Over the past several years, Stanford’s acceptance rate has hovered between roughly 3.6% and 4%, a notable drop compared with earlier cycles when rates were above 4%. While the number of admitted students has stayed relatively stable at just over 2,000 per class, fluctuations in application volume continue to influence the final acceptance rate. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Stanford’s Common Data Set.

Applications to Stanford have climbed noticeably over the past decade, rising from 44,073 for the Class of 2021 to a new peak of 60,646 for the Class of 2029. A major inflection point came during the pandemic, when Stanford adopted test-optional admissions in 2020, a policy change that likely encouraged more students to apply and contributed to the sustained surge in application volume.

Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has stayed relatively stable, generally just above 2,000 admits per year. With class size remaining consistent while applications increased, Stanford’s acceptance rate gradually tightened from 4.73% for the Class of 2021 to a record low of 3.61% for the Class of 2028, before edging back up to 3.80% for the Class of 2029.

Stanford Early Action Acceptance Rate

Stanford does not publicly release detailed Restrictive Early Action admissions statistics. As a result, it is not possible to calculate Stanford’s REA acceptance rate from official data for any cycle, including the most recent classes.

That said, at many peer institutions that offer early programs such as Restrictive Early Action, Early Action, or Early Decision, early applicants historically have higher acceptance rates than Regular Decision applicants. While Stanford’s specific numbers are not disclosed, the early round is still widely considered a strategic option for applicants who are confident that Stanford is their top choice.

Stanford Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

Stanford does not publish detailed Regular Decision admissions statistics, including the number of RD applicants, RD admits, or the RD acceptance rate. Because the university only releases overall admissions totals, it is not possible to calculate a separate RD acceptance rate from official data.

Even without separate RD figures, it is widely understood that at highly selective universities, Regular Decision acceptance rates tend to be lower than early round rates, since the RD pool is significantly larger and includes the majority of applicants.

For Stanford, the overall acceptance rate therefore offers the clearest available indicator of how competitive the admissions process is each year.

Stanford Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Stanford transfer data comes from Fall 2025, when the university reported a 2.25% transfer acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Stanford’s Common Data Set for 2025–2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Stanford’s transfer process is even more selective than its already competitive first-year admissions. While the 2.25% transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2025 is higher than the 1.58% recorded for Fall 2024, it remains well below the 3.80% overall first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2029.

Stanford Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data comes from the Class of 2029 cycle, which had a 9.95% waitlist acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist data is sourced from Stanford’s Common Data Set for 2025–2026.

The Class of 2029’s 9.95% waitlist acceptance rate is up considerably from the 6.04% recorded for the Class of 2028, hinting at notably more waitlist movement.

However, like at many highly selective universities, Stanford’s waitlist outcomes are highly unpredictable and depend largely on the year’s yield rate. If the yield is higher than expected, the university may admit few or no students from the waitlist. If it is lower, more waitlisted applicants may receive offers.

If you find yourself on Stanford’s waitlist, reviewing our Stanford waitlist guide can help you understand what steps may strengthen your chances if the university turns to the waitlist later in the cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Stanford’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate is 3.80% for the Class of 2029. Stanford received 60,646 applications and admitted 2,302 students. Data for the Class of 2030 has not yet been released.

2. Is it easier to get into Stanford through Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision?

Stanford does not publish separate Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision acceptance rates. However, at many peer institutions, early applicants historically have higher acceptance rates than RD applicants, though the early pool is often extremely competitive.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Stanford?

Transferring to Stanford is extremely difficult. For Fall 2025, only 102 out of 4,532 applicants were admitted, resulting in a 2.25% transfer acceptance rate, well below Stanford’s 3.80% overall first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2029.

4. What are my chances of getting off Stanford’s waitlist?

Your chances depend largely on the year’s yield and Stanford’s enrollment needs. In the Class of 2029 cycle, 57 students were admitted from the waitlist out of 573 who confirmed their spots, resulting in a 9.95% waitlist acceptance rate, though this figure can vary significantly from year to year.

5. Why is Stanford’s acceptance rate so low?

Stanford’s low acceptance rate reflects the gap between massive application volume and a limited class size. Each year, tens of thousands of students apply, but the university admits only around 2,000 to 2,300 students, making admission extremely competitive. Applications hit a new record of 60,646 for the Class of 2029, further intensifying the competition.

Takeaways

• Stanford’s acceptance rate has declined significantly over the past decade, from 4.73% for the Class of 2021 to a record low of 3.61% for the Class of 2028, before edging up to 3.80% for the Class of 2029 as applications reached a new all-time high of 60,646.
• Stanford does not release Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision acceptance rates, publishing only overall admissions totals each year. Data for the Class of 2030 has not yet been made available.
• Stanford’s Fall 2025 transfer acceptance rate was 2.25%, still well below the 3.80% first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 despite an uptick from prior years.
• Waitlist admissions saw increased movement for the Class of 2029, with 57 students admitted out of 573 confirmed spots for a 9.95% waitlist acceptance rate, though outcomes remain highly unpredictable from cycle to cycle.
• Given Stanford’s extremely selective admissions process, working with a college admissions expert can help you strengthen your profile and present your strongest possible application.