Stanford University

Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.

Stanford University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1520 to 1570 (enrolled, fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). We use 1540 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.

The numbers

Source: Stanford official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.

Stanford is one of only three California colleges that still requires a test score for admission.

Where Stanford sits among California colleges

Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for California Colleges.

Scholarship money tied to the SAT in California

California has no state scholarship with an SAT cutoff: the Cal Grant, the state's main financial aid program, is awarded on GPA and financial need only, with no role for test scores in eligibility or amount, and the UC and CSU systems that most Cal Grant recipients attend do not use SAT/ACT scores for aid either, so score-tied money in California comes only from a handful of private universities' own competitive merit programs.

Pepperdine Regents Scholars Program: Competitive, holistic award based on unweighted recalculated GPA plus the submitted test score; no separate application, awarded at the time of admission.

Azusa Pacific University Trustees' and Presidents'/Provost's/Deans' Scholarships: Trustees' Scholarship (full tuition, 4 awarded annually) requires a 3.9 weighted HS GPA; the President's/Provost's/Deans'/Directors' tiers blend GPA and test score with no published breakpoints.

The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our California SAT prep page.

Colleges in other states with a similar SAT range

A score that is competitive at Stanford lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.

More for California families

• SAT prep in California
• SAT scores for California colleges
• California SAT test dates for 2026-27
• Find your teen's target score

Quick answers

What SAT score do you need for Stanford?

There is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1520 to 1570. A score at or above 1570 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1520 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.

Is Stanford test-optional?

Stanford lists its policy as: Required for 2026-27. Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.

What is Stanford's acceptance rate?

3.8% (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26, 60,646 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.

Does a score above the range guarantee admission?

No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.

Want to know what your teen needs for Stanford? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.