Stanford Graduate Programs for Knight-Hennessy
Any full-time Stanford graduate degree is eligible: all 7 schools, over 200 programs. The question isn’t what’s eligible — it’s which program is the right strategic choice for your application.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Annual tuition below is Stanford’s 2026–27 full-time rate for three quarters (rounded). KHS covers it in full. Share-of-scholars figures are approximate.
The 7 Stanford Schools
Graduate School of Business
Programs: MBA (2 years), MSx (1 year, for mid-career professionals; $154,828 for the year), PhD in various business fields.
The GSB is the most popular choice among KHS scholars. The MBA acceptance rate at Stanford is roughly 6% (our estimate; the GSB publishes its own class profile) — highly competitive even without the KHS layer. MBA applicants must apply in Round 1 to stay eligible for KHS. The MSx program is particularly appealing for candidates with 8+ years of experience who want a condensed program.
School of Engineering
Programs: MS and PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Management Science & Engineering, and more.
Stanford Engineering is world-class, especially in CS and EE. For PhD students, the department’s standard funding covers year 4 onward, after the three KHS years. The proximity to Silicon Valley is a major draw for entrepreneurially minded engineers.
School of Humanities & Sciences
Programs: MA/PhD in Psychology, Political Science, Economics, History, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Philosophy, Communication, and many more.
The broadest school at Stanford. Includes everything from bench science to social science to humanities. PhD programs here are typically fully funded independently, making the KHS living stipend and community access the primary added value.
Stanford Law School
Programs: JD (3 years), JSM (master’s, 1 year), LLM (for international lawyers). The JSD (doctoral) and the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) are not eligible for KHS.
Stanford Law is the smallest top law school (~180 students per JD class), making it extremely selective. The three-year JD maximizes the KHS funding benefit. Joint degrees (JD/MBA, JD/MA) are also popular among KHS scholars.
School of Medicine
Programs: MD (4 years), PhD in Biomedical Sciences, MS in various clinical fields.
For MD students, KHS funds up to 11 quarters in years 1–3, and the School of Medicine funds years 4 and 5 under its standard funding commitment. Stanford Medicine’s curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary research, making it a natural fit for the KHS philosophy.
Graduate School of Education
Programs: MA in Education, PhD in Education, various joint programs.
Stanford's education school is consistently ranked #1. Programs are relatively small and highly collaborative. KHS scholars in education often come with experience in educational nonprofits, policy, or teaching.
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Programs: MS/PhD in Earth System Science, Environment and Resources, Energy Science and Engineering.
Stanford's newest school (founded 2022), dedicated to climate and sustainability. A natural fit for KHS scholars with a strong civic mindset focused on environmental challenges. The school is growing rapidly and represents an emerging opportunity.
Programs That Are Not Eligible
- Honors Cooperative Program
- Master of Liberal Arts
- Doctor of Science of Law (JSD) and Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
- A PhD student adding an MA/MS in their own discipline
- Coterminal degrees (unless you apply externally for a new program)
Strategic Program Selection
Remember: KHS acceptance is conditional on Stanford admission. Choosing a program where you’re a strong fit — not just the most prestigious one — dramatically increases your odds of a successful outcome. Some applicants apply to more than one Stanford program to increase their chances, within Stanford’s rules on simultaneous applications.
Choose the program because it fits you
Don't apply to the MBA because “it's prestigious.” Apply because an MBA aligns with where you're heading. KHS and Stanford both look for genuine fit.
Consider less competitive programs
The GSB and Law School are the most competitive Stanford programs. Education, Sustainability, and some H&S programs have higher acceptance rates. If they're a genuine fit, they're strategically wise.
International Applicant?
International guide →Over half of the 2026 cohort held non-U.S. passports. Here’s what internationals need to know. International guide →