Stanford University's Graduation Rates: How Many Make The Cut?

Stanford University is a place of learning, discovery, and innovation, with a student population of over 16,000 degree-seeking students enrolled in bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral programs. The university offers a wide range of graduate programs, with 9,688 students pursuing 15 distinct post-baccalaureate degrees in about 150 graduate programs across seven schools. Stanford's graduate programs have been central to its reputation for academic excellence, intellectual innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit since its founding in 1885.

Stanford's graduate student population is 9,688

Stanford University, a place of learning, discovery, and innovation, currently has 9,688 graduate students enrolled. This number constitutes 57% of the university's overall enrollment, with the remaining 43% being undergraduate students. Stanford's graduate student population is spread across the university's seven schools: Business, Doerr School of Sustainability, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Medicine.

Of the 9,688 graduate students, 411 are pursuing Master's Professional degrees (MBA), 2,103 are pursuing Master's Academic degrees, 270 are pursuing Doctoral Professional degrees (JD, MD), and 799 are pursuing Doctoral Academic degrees (PhD, DMA, JSD). Stanford's graduate programs offer a range of degrees, including several doctorates, the PhD, JD, MD, DMA, JSD, and a variety of master's degrees such as the MS, MA, MBA, and MFA.

The university's graduate student population is diverse, with international students coming from over 123 countries. The top five countries, other than the U.S., that Stanford graduate students call home are China, India, Canada, South Korea, and Brazil. The majority of graduate students live in university-subsidized housing, allowing them to engage fully in Stanford's vibrant intellectual community.

Stanford's graduate programs are known for their academic excellence, intellectual innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. The university encourages graduate students to engage in a variety of professional and career development opportunities to prepare them for a diversity of career paths. With its distinguished faculty, cutting-edge research, and collaborative intellectual community, Stanford University provides an unparalleled environment for graduate study and research.

57% of all students enrolled are graduates

Stanford University, founded in 1885, is an esteemed institution with a rich history of academic excellence and innovation. The university's commitment to graduate education has been central to its reputation since its early years. In its inaugural year, 1891, Stanford welcomed 39 men and 12 women as graduate students, marking one of the first opportunities for graduate study on the West Coast.

Today, Stanford continues to attract exceptional graduate students, with 57% of its overall enrollment comprising graduate programmes. This translates to approximately 9,688 graduate students pursuing diverse fields of study. The university offers 15 distinct post-baccalaureate degrees across all seven of its schools: Business, Doerr School of Sustainability, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Medicine.

The graduate student body is diverse, with students hailing from over 123 countries. The university's graduate programmes are highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, fostering an environment that encourages learning, teaching, and research that transcends traditional boundaries. Students have the opportunity to engage with a wide array of faculty members, including Nobel laureates, across various disciplines.

Approximately half of Stanford's graduate students are pursuing doctoral degrees, with the university consistently ranking among the leading private U.S. institutions awarding the highest number of PhDs annually. The university's graduate programmes are designed to prepare students for a wide range of career paths, and about 85% of graduate students receive financial assistance through Stanford or external sources.

The university's graduate schools showcase their unique strengths and contributions. For example, the Graduate School of Business empowers leaders to drive change and innovation, while the Doerr School of Sustainability addresses global sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. The Graduate School of Education, with approximately 400 graduate students, plays a pivotal role in shaping future researchers, policymakers, and educators.

Stanford offers 15 distinct post-baccalaureate degrees

Stanford University currently has 9,688 graduate students pursuing 15 distinct post-baccalaureate degrees in about 150 graduate programs across seven schools: Business, Doerr School of Sustainability, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Medicine.

The post-baccalaureate degrees offered by Stanford include several doctorates, such as the PhD, JD, MD, DMA, and JSD, as well as a variety of master's degrees, including the MS, MA, MBA, and MFA. About half of Stanford's graduate students are pursuing a doctoral degree, and the university is among the top private U.S. universities awarding the highest number of PhDs annually.

The university's schools, departments, and faculty have a high degree of autonomy in shaping their graduate program requirements, allocating resources, and creating innovative learning opportunities. This flexibility allows Stanford to offer a diverse range of graduate programs that cater to different interests and career goals.

One of Stanford's unique features is its highly collaborative intellectual community, which provides an exceptional environment for graduate study and research. Graduate students have the opportunity to engage in learning, teaching, and research that often extends beyond departmental and disciplinary boundaries. They may also participate in interdisciplinary or joint degree programs that span multiple schools, allowing them to explore diverse academic interests.

In addition to its academic offerings, Stanford encourages graduate students to engage in professional development opportunities to prepare them for a wide range of career paths. The university offers resources and support in areas such as teaching, mentoring, leadership, management, diversity, equity, and inclusion. With a strong focus on both academic excellence and personal growth, Stanford University provides its graduate students with a well-rounded and enriching educational experience.

85% of graduate students receive financial aid

Stanford University is committed to making a world-class education affordable. About 85% of Stanford graduate students receive financial assistance from the university or external sources. The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education administers nine university-wide graduate fellowship programmes.

The Stanford Graduate Fellowships in Science and Engineering, for example, awards three-year fellowships to over 100 incoming doctoral students each year. The EDGE (Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education) Doctoral Fellowship and the DARE (Diversifying Academia, Recruiting Excellence) Doctoral Fellowship provide funding, professional development, and mentoring opportunities to doctoral students who enhance diversity within their academic fields and in the professoriate.

Stanford graduate students also have a history of competing successfully for national and international fellowships and research grants. For example, over 400 graduate students are supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a three-year fellowship awarded to the nation's most promising scholars.

Additionally, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, the largest fully endowed scholars program in the world, supports a community of future global leaders. Each year, up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford.

The cost of graduate study at Stanford varies by degree, school, and enrollment status. Funding options are available based on academic merit, financial need, course of study, or type of degree program. Most fellowships and grants are secured through academic departments, outside agencies, or governments.

Stanford is home to over 16,000 degree-seeking students

Stanford University is currently home to over 16,000 degree-seeking students enrolled in bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral programs. The student population decreased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but saw a large increase in the undergraduate population in 2021. Stanford's student body is almost equally split between males and females in undergraduate programs, although males still outnumber females overall.

The university offers a wide range of degree programs across seven schools: Business, Doerr School of Sustainability, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Medicine. Stanford's largest school is the School of Humanities and Sciences, which has over 45 departments and enrolls more than 2,300 graduate students and over 2,400 undergraduate students. The School of Engineering is the second-largest, with nearly 5,000 graduate and undergraduate students.

Stanford's graduate programs are a key part of the university's reputation for academic excellence, intellectual innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. Graduate students make up 57% of Stanford's overall enrollment, with 9,688 students pursuing 15 distinct post-baccalaureate degrees in about 150 graduate programs. About half of Stanford's graduate students are pursuing a doctoral degree, and the university is consistently among the leading private U.S. universities awarding the highest number of PhDs each year.

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, the largest fully endowed scholars program in the world, is a notable aspect of Stanford's graduate community. Each year, up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford. This diverse group of students enhances Stanford's global perspective and collaborative intellectual environment.

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