Stanford University
STANFORD, CA
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
EDINBURG, TEXAS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Stanford vs Texas Rio Grande Valley - US university comparison

Stanford University
STANFORD
Stanford, CA
World rank · ARWU#2
Acceptance3.8%
Median SAT1550
Graduation rate91.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$124K
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Edinburg, Texas
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance94.2%
Median SAT985
Graduation rate50.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$50K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Stanford University University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
#2 World rank · ARWU #801-900
#6 Rank · THE -
3.8% Acceptance rate 94.2%
1550 Median SAT 985
91.9% Graduation rate 50.9%
18,121 Enrollment 31,864

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

3.8% Acceptance rate 94.2%
79.9% Yield rate 55.4%
1550 Median SAT 985
3.94 Avg. GPA -
60,646 Number of applications 12,137
13.1% Int'l students 1.7%
$124K Median earnings · 10 yrs $50K
$73K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $29K
$220K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $67K
91.9% Graduation rate 50.9%
97.5% Retention rate 78.9%
$12,000 Median debt $12,950
$68,574 Tuition · year $22,287
$77,279 Avg. aid package $11,242
100% % of need met 72%
$28,507 Avg. graduate debt $14,589
$100 Application fee -
$85,424 Avg. int'l aid $6,258
At a glance
Stanford leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance3.8% vs 94.2%
Aid$77,279 vs $11,242
Tuition$68,574 vs $22,287

The verdict, from the data

Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts most of the applications it receives (94.2%), while Stanford turns away the overwhelming majority (3.8%).

The larger international cohort belongs to Stanford: 13.1% of students against 1.7% (Texas Rio Grande Valley).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Stanford awards international students $85,424 on average, Texas Rio Grande Valley awards $6,258.

The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Stanford lists $97,545 against $37,183 (Texas Rio Grande Valley), but after average aid what remains is $20,266 against $25,941.

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.

EXPERT TAKE

Stanford is the more selective of the two (3.8% vs 94.2% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#2 vs #801-900). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $68,574 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Stanford for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 94.2% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 985).

Graduate outcomes

Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $50K); Stanford has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.9% vs 50.9%).

Cost and aid

Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $68,574); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $11,242).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kStanfordTexas Rio Grande Valley TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Stanford and Texas Rio Grande Valley highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Stanford Texas Rio Grande Valley
World rank · ARWU#2#801-900
Rank · THE#6-
Acceptance rate3.8%94.2%
Yield rate79.9%55.4%
Median SAT1550985
Avg. GPA3.94-
Number of applications60,64612,137
International students13.1%1.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$124K$50K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$73K$29K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$220K$67K
Graduation rate91.9%50.9%
Retention rate97.5%78.9%
Median debt$12,000$12,950
Tuition · year$68,574$22,287
Avg. aid package$77,279$11,242
% of need met100%72%
Avg. graduate debt$28,507$14,589
Application fee$100-
Enrollment18,12131,864

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Stanford or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

It's harder to get into Stanford. Stanford accepts 3.8% of applicants, while Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2%.

Do Stanford or Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn more?

Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $50K.

How much is tuition at Stanford vs Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,574 per year at Stanford and $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

What SAT score do you need for Stanford or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The median admitted SAT score is 1550 at Stanford and 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Stanford or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #2 for Stanford vs #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Which university offers more financial aid - Stanford or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The average aid package is $77,279 at Stanford and $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Compare Stanford with
Harvard Massachusetts Institute of Technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns Hopkins Washington University Northwestern North Carolina
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.