When you are considering a Stanford education, you may be concerned about how you and your family will be able to afford the high costs. The Financial Aid Office is ready to help you in planning how to cover your college expenses. Our need-based aid program is designed to ensure that your family's economic circumstances will not prevent you from being able to enroll at Stanford.

Our Philosophy

Meeting the cost of a Stanford undergraduate education is a significant investment. We are committed to working with you and your family in partnership to provide a comprehensive financial aid program that makes it possible for all admitted students to attend Stanford.

Our admission program is need-blind. For all but some international applicants, financial status will not affect the admission decision. Our financial aid program is need-based. The Financial Aid Office awards all aid on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Fundamental to our commitment to a need-blind/need-based financial aid program is the expectation that you and your parents together will assume the initial, primary responsibility for meeting the cost of your education.

To meet your educational expenses we expect you to seek financial resources from state, federal and private sources, and contribute from your earnings during summers, holidays, and/or part-time employment during the academic year.

We use a variation of the Institutional Methodology of the College Scholarship Service to establish an expected contribution from your parents. If we determine that you cannot meet the standard educational budget from personal, family or outside resources, we will award or recommend financial aid resources to help you meet that budget. For more detailed information, refer to the 2008-2009 Financial Aid Handbook for Undergraduates as well as our web page detailing our 2008-2009 Financial Aid Program Enhancements.