Stanford University Fees

For the 2026–27 academic year, Stanford University fees are USD 67,731 (INR 64L) per year for undergraduate study, while the estimated total cost of attendance is USD 97,545 (INR 92.17L). Postgraduate tuition generally ranges from around USD 14,000 to USD 30,000 (INR 13.23L–28.35L) per quarter, depending on your programme and unit load.

About 69% of Stanford’s undergraduate budget goes towards tuition, while the remaining 31% covers regular study and living expenses. Housing and food alone cost USD 22,944 (INR 21.68L) per year, making them the biggest expense after tuition. You’ll also need to plan separately for health insurance and travel, as neither is included in the estimated total.

Below, let us understand the Stanford University fees by study level and course, other expected costs, and the financial aid in detail.

Stanford University Fees by Study Level

When converted at USD 1 = INR 94.49, Stanford University fees in Indian rupees come to around INR 64L per year for undergraduate study. 

Graduate tuition ranges from approximately INR 13.40L to INR 20.61L per quarter, depending on the number of units taken. 

Here’s the fee breakdown by study level:

Study Level	Approx. Tuition Fee (USD/INR)
Undergraduate	USD 67,731 (INR 64L) per year
Master’s programmes	USD 14,180–21,815 (INR 13.40L–20.61L) per quarter
Doctoral programmes	USD 14,180–21,815 (INR 13.40L–20.61L) per quarter

For graduate students, the lower rate applies to an 8–10-unit course load, while the higher rate applies to 11–18 units. 

The final fee can therefore change depending on the programme, number of units, and quarters attended. 

Stanford University Fees by Course/Program

Tuition for Stanford’s major graduate and professional programmes ranges from around USD 15,000 to USD 30,000 (INR 14.17L–28.35L) per quarter in 2026–27. Graduate engineering starts at the lower end, while the first-year MBA has the highest quarterly fee in this comparison.

The yearly total also depends on how many quarters you attend. Graduate engineering starts at the lower end, while Stanford University MBA fees are among the highest, reaching USD 29,729 (INR 28.09L) per quarter for first-year students. 

So, looking at the full-year figure gives a much clearer idea of the tuition budget.

Here are the programme-wise fees for 2026–27:

Programme Name	Tuition per Quarter (USD/INR)	Approx. Annual Tuition (USD/INR)
Stanford MBA- First year	USD 29,729 (INR 28.09L)	USD 89,187 (INR 84.27L)
Stanford MBA- Second year	USD 28,585 (INR 27.01L)	USD 85,755 (INR 81.03L)
Graduate engineering- 8–10 units	USD 15,100 (INR 14.27L)	USD 45,300 (INR 42.80L)
Graduate engineering- 11–18 units	USD 23,239 (INR 21.96L)	USD 69,717 (INR 65.88L)
Stanford Law	USD 26,593 (INR 25.13L)	USD 79,779 (INR 75.38L)
Law/GSB joint programme	USD 27,037 (INR 25.55L)	USD 81,111 (INR 76.64L)
Stanford MD	USD 24,034 (INR 22.71L)	USD 96,136 (INR 90.84L)*

One point worth clearing up is that Stanford University doesn’t offer a course titled BTech. Its undergraduate engineering programmes lead to a Bachelor of Science (BS) instead. Therefore, the Stanford University fees for B Tech are the same as the standard undergraduate tuition of USD 67,731 (INR 64L) per year.

Check out 120+ Courses at Stanford University

Other Costs of Studying at Stanford University

Tuition isn’t the only amount you need to plan for. A typical undergraduate may spend another USD 29,814 (INR 28.17L) per year on housing, food, university fees, books, and personal needs. 

This takes Stanford’s estimated 2026–27 student budget to USD 97,545 (INR 92.17L) before travel and health insurance are added.

Here’s what you may need to pay apart from tuition:

Expense Category	Estimated Cost (USD/INR)
Housing and food	USD 22,944 (INR 21.68L) per year
Cardinal Care health insurance	USD 2,936 (INR 2.77L) per quarter
Campus Health Service Fee	USD 281 (INR 26.55K) per quarter
Student fees allowance	USD 2,610 (INR 2.47L) per year
Books and supplies	USD 855 (INR 80.79K) per year
Personal expenses	USD 3,405 (INR 3.22L) per year
New Student Orientation Fee	USD 525 (INR 49.61K), one time
Document Fee	USD 250 (INR 23.62K), one time

Note:

• Housing and food costs can change with the room type, meal plan, and choice of on-campus or off-campus accommodation.
• Students can waive Cardinal Care if they already have another health insurance plan accepted by Stanford.
• Travel costs vary by location, while new students must also budget for the one-time orientation and document fees.

Read more: Stanford University Rankings | Stanford Universitty Admissions  

Scholarships and Financial Aid at Stanford University

Stanford mainly gives financial aid after looking at a family’s finances, not simply a student’s marks. Nearly half of its undergraduates receive financial aid grants, and about one-third get enough support to cover the full tuition fee.

Families earning under USD 150,000 (INR 1.42Cr) a year, with assets that are typical for that income, may pay no undergraduate tuition. If the family income is below USD 100,000 (INR 94.49L), Stanford may cover tuition, housing, and food.

Here are the main funding options you can check:

1. Stanford Undergraduate Scholarship

• Eligibility: This scholarship is meant for undergraduate students whose families can’t meet the full cost of studying at Stanford. If you’re applying from outside the US, remember to ask for financial aid in your admission application itself.
• Coverage: The amount isn’t the same for everyone. Stanford first checks how much your family can contribute and then decides how much support you need. The award may help with tuition, housing, food, and other approved expenses.

2. Knight-Hennessy Scholars

• Eligibility: You can apply if you’re seeking admission to an eligible full-time graduate course at Stanford. There’s a separate application for Knight-Hennessy, so your regular course application won’t automatically put you in the running.
• Coverage: The scholarship can pay tuition for up to three years, depending on how long your course lasts. It also provides money for everyday living, academic expenses, and one return trip to Stanford each year.

3. Stanford GSB Need-Based Fellowship

• Eligibility: Once admitted to the Stanford MBA, you can apply for this fellowship if paying for the course would be difficult without financial help. International students are considered under the same need-based approach.
• Coverage: An average award is about USD 50,000 (INR 47.25L) a year. Across the two-year MBA, this can come to around USD 100,000 (INR 94.49L), and the money doesn’t have to be paid back.

4. BOLD Fellows Fund

• Eligibility: This option is for MBA students dealing with financial hardship who have also worked to create better opportunities for others. You’ll first need to qualify for Stanford GSB’s regular need-based aid.
• Coverage: The fund may add as much as USD 15,000 (INR 14.17L) a year to your financial aid. Over two years, that means you could receive up to approximately USD 30,000 (INR 28.35L).

5. Stanford Law School Need-Based Grant

• Eligibility: If you’re admitted to the JD programme, Stanford Law School compares your available finances with the expected study cost. A gap between the two may make you eligible for grant support.
• Coverage: There’s no standard amount here either. The grant may cover part of your tuition and can go up to the full tuition fee in some cases. You may still need loans or personal funds for living and other costs.

6. Departmental Fellowships and Assistantships

• Eligibility: These are mainly available to master’s and doctoral students, but every department handles them differently. Your academic background, course, available funding, and research or teaching role can all affect the decision.
• Coverage: Some fellowships pay only the tuition, while others add a living stipend. A research or teaching assistantship may come with a salary, a tuition allowance, or both, so it’s worth checking directly with your department.

Note: Stanford has more than 1,600 named undergraduate scholarships, but you won’t need to apply for them one by one. The university uses your financial aid details to consider you for the funds that fit your situation.

Check out the scholarships at Stanford University in detail.

Conclusion

Studying at Stanford requires a large budget, but the published tuition fee doesn’t always show what you’ll finally pay. Your course, unit load, housing choice, insurance, and financial aid package will all change the total. That’s why it helps to work out two figures: the full cost without aid and the amount left after possible funding.

The practical approach is to check scholarships at the same time as you compare programmes. Don’t wait until after admission, especially if you’re an international applicant, because some financial aid requests must be made with the application itself. Also leave room for smaller charges such as books, travel, and one-time fees, they may look minor separately, but they quickly add up.

If you need help comparing costs, finding suitable funding, or planning your study abroad journey, you can book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad’s study abroad experts today!