Overview of Graduate Education at Stanford

In its inaugural year, 1891, 39 men and 12 women from 19 states registered in graduate standing at Stanford University. This represented one of the first opportunities for graduate study on the West Coast. Over a century later, in the fall of 2007, 8,186 students in 65 departments and programs were pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees in seven schools: Business, Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Medicine. At Stanford’s spring 2007 commencement ceremonies, 3,111 graduate degrees were awarded. Stanford is now recognized as one of the world’s leading research universities.

Stanford offers a wealth of educational opportunities for graduate studies. The overall organization and management of graduate education at Stanford is decentralized; each school and department coordinates its own graduate programs. Oversight of graduate education across all schools resides in the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE), established in January, 2007. The creation of VPGE was a central recommendation of the Commission on Graduate Education.

Want to Know More?

• Statistical profile of Stanford graduate students
• Alphabetical list of all graduate degree programs and links to program websites
• Report of the Commission on Graduate Education, November 2005 (pdf)
• A short history of graduate education at Stanford (coming soon)