Stanford vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Stanford admits 3.8%, Virginia admits 16.8%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Stanford: 13.1% of students against 4.9% (Virginia).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Stanford reports aid for international students ($85,424 on average), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Stanford starts at $97,545 against $80,859 and ends at $20,266 against $43,736 (Virginia).
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 16.81% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#2 vs #201-300). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $87K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 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 Virginia for: a higher graduation rate, higher retention, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 16.81% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1470).
Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $87K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 91.9%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $68,574); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stanford | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #2 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | #6 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 3.8% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 79.9% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1550 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.94 | - |
| Number of applications | 60,646 | 58,951 |
| International students | 13.1% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $124K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $220K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 91.9% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 97.5% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $68,574 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $77,279 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,507 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | $100 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 18,121 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stanford or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Stanford. Stanford accepts 3.8% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Stanford or Virginia graduates earn more?
Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $87K.
How much is tuition at Stanford vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,574 per year at Stanford and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Stanford or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1550 at Stanford and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stanford or Virginia?
Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #2 for Stanford vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stanford or Virginia?
The average aid package is $77,279 at Stanford and $37,123 at Virginia.
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