Stanford University was founded with a societal purpose. From the beginning, the school was designed for the common good. Today, it is regarded as one of the best universities in the world. Rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford is surrounded by innovation, thought leadership, and technological advancement. Not only is it in the mix of all that — it is a foundational part of it.
There are 7,841 undergraduate students, and more than one acre of campus per undergrad with a contiguous campus of over 8,000 acres with more than 600 buildings. Students can pursue undergraduate studies in three of the universities seven undergraduate schools: Humanities and Sciences, Engineering, and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. There are 20 libraries at Stanford, and the research budget is nearly 2 billion. Undergraduates are in the heart of this through faculty and graduate student-led research, along with their own independent projects. But don’t limit your idea of research to what can happen in a lab.
At Stanford, research happens in lots of forms and places, spanning the sciences and humanities. All students also complete a core that they call the “Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing,” and complete a set of courses in civic, liberal, and global education called COLLEGE (their all-caps). To ensure students at Stanford are ready to excel in this environment, the admissions team at Stanford seeks out the best of the best when it comes to prospective students. But that doesn’t mean just getting straight A’s and perfect scores. They want students who are striving for something great.
Stanford holds back from releasing comprehensive admissions statistics, but the acceptance rates for both the Class of 2027 and the Class of 2026 were under 4%.
In this post, we’ll share our top five majors at Stanford not based on popularity, but driven innovation, resources, and opportunities. We hope this will spark your imagination and get your gears turning for where and how Stanford may fit into your future.
If you are thinking about applying to a top-tier school, email us. We assist top students in gaining admission to the most selective schools in the country.
What do we mean by best major?
The five most popular majors at Stanford by enrollment are Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Human Biology, and Symbolic Systems. But this post isn’t called “The Most Popular Majors at Stanford,” and our list of the best isn’t a popularity contest. Some of the most popular may make it, but being popular isn’t one of our criteria. What we measure majors by is more analytical, even if it isn’t necessarily quantitative. We look for significant and impressive resources, especially when compared against the same, or similar, major at a comparable school. We measure for a balance of focus and breadth, looking for majors that having a clear perspective while offering room to explore and discover. We require that a top major have impressive research and internship opportunities where applicable, and we expect to see post-graduation outcomes that pay you back for your educational investment.
With all that in mind, these are our top five majors at Stanford.
Materials Science and Engineering, B.S.
The major in Materials Science and Engineering provides “students with a strong foundation in materials science and engineering” …which isn’t super descriptive, but the department of Materials Science and Engineering has never claimed to specialize in creative writing. But it does show focus! They do what they do, and the name says it all. Not only that, but the program is also one of the best in the world. Students leave the materials science and engineering program prepared to build careers in the field, or to progress on to an equally top-tier graduate program. And the highest-performing students in the program are encouraged to begin graduate work while still pursuing the undergrad to kick-start their path towards an MS in Materials Science and Engineering in only one additional year.
Design Program, B.S.
Formerly called ‘Product Design,’ the Design Program at Stanford is an undergraduate major focused on creating and training designers who use technology, aesthetics, and business to address human needs. The Design Program was crafted to work both the artistic and analytical ‘sides’ of students’ brains, and it’s a truly comprehensive and immersive experience all with the goal, ultimately, of serving “people and planet.” The technical foundation is impeccable, but the move to the name “Design Program” signifies a switch towards putting the big picture of design more prominently alongside the ‘things’ that you create. There are three methods tracks you can pick from: Physical Design + Manufacturing, AI + Digital User Experience, or Human Behavior + Multi-stakeholder Research. Then there are four Domain Focus spheres you can pick from: Designing for the Planet, Designing for Health, Designing for Social Impact, and Designing for Biological Futures. We love that this program also integrates business-focused courses that empower students to put their ideas into action.
Symbolic Systems Program, B.S.
The Symbolic Systems Program is in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford and integrates computer science, linguistics, philosophy, statistics, and more into one program that is truly multi-disciplinary while retaining deep focus. The program started way back in 1985 at the beginning of computer science as we know it today, and the launch of the cognitive revolution. We love how students in the program can identify an area of particular interest within the Symbolic System Program to explore even more thoroughly. There are nearly 20 concentrations you can select from, including Artificial Intelligence, Computer Music, Media and Communication, and Philosophical Foundations.
Civil and Environmental Engineering Major
The Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) major in the School of Engineering & Doerr School of Sustainability puts students in the midst of some of the best minds in the industry in the place where innovation is happening. Within the CEE major at Stanford, there are a number of options for students to focus in on their passions and develop their interests. You could do Atmosphere and Energy, an ABET accredited Civil Engineering focus, Environmental Systems Engineering, and Sustainable Architecture+Engineering. Each of these programs is unique but founded in the same core principles. If you are considering any of these tracks, you’ll want to start off by reading up on the freshman and sophomore-year course plans recommended for students considering the major. Top-performing students can pursue the honors program, which we love because students have the chance to do advanced-level independent research with the support of a faculty research advisor as well as to complete an honors thesis.
Aeronautics and Astronautics
A couple years ago, a student we worked with had the Aeronautics and Astronautics major at Stanford in their crosshairs. There were back-up plans and back-up plans to the back-up plans, of course, because that’s what a holistic admissions strategy needs — but what she really wanted was Stanford. Through working with her (and, yes, she did get into Stanford, obviously), we learned every single detail about the Aeronautics and Astronautics major and only became more impressed as we continued to learn. Students are expected to enter the program with exceptional math, science, and computer science skills before even entering the program (which means top-tier courses, internships, and independent studies), and will continue to be challenged once they get into the program. As a freshman, you’ll want to join the Stanford Flight Club and the Stanford Student Space Initiative. Once they are through the program, students go on to work with NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, and other industry leaders, as well as into leading MS and PhD programs.
After you’ve identified your ideal major, we think you should check out the Ethics and Technology minor. Stanford is the ideal place to study the intersection of innovation and ethical decision-making, especially as AI transforms our world.
So, you want to go to Stanford? We can help.