Stanford University

Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, California. It was founded in 1885 by Leland Stanford—a railroad magnate who served as the eighth governor of and then-incumbent senator from California—and his wife, Jane, in memory of their only child, Leland. Stanford has an 8,180-acre campus, among the largest in the nation. Its influence, wealth, and rankings have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world.The university admitted its first students in 1891, opening as a coeducational and non-denominational institution.