Community

Stanford has been coeducational since its founding; however, between approximately 1899 and 1933, there was a policy in place limiting female enrollment to 500 students and maintaining a ratio of three males for every one female student. As of 2005, undergraduate enrollment is split nearly evenly between the sexes, but male enrollees outnumber female enrollees about 2:1 at the graduate level.

Stanford places a strong focus on residential education. Approximately 94 percent of undergraduate students live in university housing, with another five percent living in Stanford housing at the overseas campuses. In addition to numerous dorms and residential houses, Stanford is home to three housed sororities and seven housed fraternities. Several residences are considered theme houses, with either an ethnic or academic focus.

At any time, around 50 percent of the graduate population lives on campus. When construction concludes on the new Munger graduate residence this percentage will probably increase.