Stanford University | USA Universities

On Oct. 1, 1891, Stanford University opened its doors after six years of planning and building. In the early morning hours, construction workers were still preparing the Inner Quadrangle for the ceremonies. The great arch at the western end had been backed with panels of red and white cloth to form an alcove where dignitaries would sit.

The 2,000 seats set up in the three-acre Quad soon proved insufficient for the growing crowd. By midmorning, people were streaming across fields on foot. At half past 10, the special train from San Francisco arrived on the temporary spur that had been used during construction. As a faculty member recalled, “Hope was in every heart, and the presiding spirit of freedom prompted us to dare greatly.”

Jane and Leland Stanford established the university in memory of their only child, Leland Jr., who died of typhoid fever at 15. Within weeks of his 1884 death, the Stanfords determined that, because they no longer could do anything for their own child, they would use their wealth to do something for “other people’s” children.

The Undergraduate Program

The objective of Stanford University, Jane and Leland Stanford wrote in their Founding Grant in 1885, is "to qualify its students for personal success, and direct usefulness in life; And its purposes, to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization, teaching the blessings of liberty regulated by law, and inculcating love and reverence for the great principles of government as derived from the inalienable rights of man to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
With an approximate 5.9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, Stanford emphasizes close interaction with faculty. Stanford offers three undergraduate degrees – Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Sciences (B.S.), and Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (B.A.S.) – each designed to achieve balance between depth of knowledge acquired through specialization and breadth of knowledge gained through exploration. Undergraduates complete at least 180 units, including requirements for the major, writing and rhetoric requirements, one year of a foreign language and courses in the following areas:

• Introduction to the Humanities: One course each quarter of the freshman year
• Disciplinary Breadth: Five courses required, at least one in engineering and applied sciences, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences
• Education for Citizenship: Two courses in at least two of the following subject areas—ethical reasoning, the global community, American cultures and gender studies

Of the seven schools at Stanford, three award undergraduate degrees: Humanities and Sciences, Earth Sciences and Engineering. Students who wish to pursue in depth more than one field may double major—that is, complete the requirements for majors in two fields—or minor in a second field. Students also can pursue an individually designed major. Visit http://ual.stanford.edu/.

Graduate Studies

In Stanford’s first year, 1891, 39 men and 12 women from 19 states registered in graduate standing, representing one of the first opportunities for graduate study on the West Coast. Today, 8,796 students in 91 departments and programs are pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees in all seven of Stanford’s schools: Business, Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law and Medicine. Exchange programs with the University of California-Berkeley and the University of California-San Francisco enable graduate students to take courses not offered at Stanford.
About 85 percent of Stanford graduate students receive financial assistance, aside from loans, from Stanford or external sources. About 56 percent of graduate students live on campus.

General Contact Information

Telephone (campus operator):

650-723-2300

Primary address:

Stanford University
450 Serra Mall
Stanford, CA 94305–2004

Admissions Information

Undergraduate

• Website: admission.stanford.edu
• Address:
  Office of Undergraduate Admission
  355 Galvez Street – Montag Hall
  Stanford, CA 94305-6106

Graduate

• Website: gradadmissions.stanford.edu 

Media Contacts

Stanford News Service

• Website: news.stanford.edu
• Phone: (650) 723-2558