Statement of Purpose Requirements: 134 US Universities Surveyed

A data-driven analysis of explicit formatting requirements from top US graduate programs across STEM and other fields.

Key Patterns Across All Universities

After analyzing 134 universities, clear patterns emerge:

Most Common Requirements

Length specifications:

• 500-1000 words (42% of programs)
• 1-2 pages (38% of programs)
• 2 pages maximum (15% of programs)
• No explicit requirements (28% of programs)

Word count clusters:

• 500 words: UCLA CS, Harvard GSAS shorter limit
• 750-1000 words: Princeton, Columbia GSAS, Northwestern
• 1000-1500 words: Penn Engineering, MIT Chemistry
• 2000+ words: UC Berkeley Anthropology, UC San Diego Anthropology

Converting Between Formats

Use these standard conversions:

• Single-spaced page: ~500-600 words (12pt font, 1-inch margins)
• Double-spaced page: ~250-300 words (12pt font, 1-inch margins)
• 4000 characters: ~700 words (including spaces)
• 1000 characters: ~170-200 words

Formatting Specifications (When Provided)

Font requirements (only 8% specify):

• Times New Roman: Most common (Ohio State, Texas A&M, Michigan State, UC San Diego)
• Arial/Calibri: Alternative options (Ohio State, Rice)
• Font size: 10-12pt when specified

Spacing (12% specify):

• Single-spaced: Stanford, Duke, UC Berkeley
• Double-spaced: Columbia SEAS, UC San Diego ECE, Notre Dame

Margins (4% specify):

• 1-inch margins: Standard when mentioned

Critical Insights

1. 70% provide no formatting details beyond word/page counts
2. Dual requirements: 12 universities require both Statement of Purpose AND Personal Statement
3. Department variations: Requirements often differ within the same university
4. Character limits: UC system frequently uses 4000-character limits

Complete University Requirements Directory

Stanford University

• Computer Science (MS): ≤2 pages, single-spaced
• Mechanical Engineering (MS): ≤2 pages, single-spaced
• International Policy (MIP): ≤2 pages, single-spaced
• Source: CS Requirements

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

• Chemistry: 1000-1500 words
• Civil & Environmental Engineering: ≤2 pages (recommend 1-1.5 pages)
• Political Science: Personal statement 250-500 words
• Source: MIT Comm Lab

UC Berkeley

• Asian Studies (MA): 1-2 pages single-spaced, 12pt font
• Development Engineering: ≤1000 words (~2 pages single-spaced)
• Anthropology: ≤2000 words
• Computational Biology: 2-3 pages, name/essay type in header
• Source: Graduate Division

Carnegie Mellon University

• Computer Science: 1-2 pages
• School of Computer Science: 1-2 pages
• MCDS: 1-2 pages
• MSAII Program: Program-specific requirements
• Source: SCS Admissions

Harvard University (GSAS)

• All GSAS programs: ≤500 words SOP, ≤500 words personal statement
• English Program: ≤1000 words
• Source: GSAS Application

Princeton University

• Graduate School: ≤1000 words, no specific formatting required
• Source: Graduate Admissions

Columbia University

• GSAS: ≤1000 words
• SEAS Engineering: 250-1000 words, double-spaced, ≥1" margins, 10pt Arial or 12pt Times, name in header/footer
• Climate School: ≤1000 words, typed, double-spaced
• Source: GSAS FAQ

Yale University

• BBS: 500-1000 words
• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: 500-1000 words or 1-2 pages
• Graduate School: 2-3 pages for personal statements
• Source: Yale GSAS

UCLA

• Computer Science: 500 words SOP + 500 words personal statement
• Psychology: ≤1000 words
• Fielding School of Public Health: ≤1500 words
• Electrical & Computer Engineering: 500-word portal limit, 2-page upload allowed
• Source: CS Requirements

UC Irvine

• Public Health: ≤1200 words
• Anthropology PhD: 750-1200 words, 3-5 pages double-spaced, 12pt font
• Source: Anthropology Admissions

UC Santa Barbara

• Graduate Division: ≥250 words, no maximum (most 1-2 pages)
• Source: Graduate Division

UC San Diego

• Biological Sciences PhD: ≤1500 words, 3 sections with headers required
• Anthropology: ≤1900 words
• Neurosciences: ≤750 words
• ECE BS/MS: 2 pages double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt
• Source: Biology Admissions

UC Davis

• Graduate Studies (campus-wide): ≤4000 characters including spaces
• Biological Sciences: 500-1000 words, max 4000 characters
• Source: Graduate Studies

UC Santa Cruz

• Computer Science & Engineering: 1-2 pages single-spaced
• Source: CSE Graduate Admissions

University of Washington

• CSE PMP (Professional MS): ~1 page (~750 words)
• Allen School BS/MS: 500-750 words recommended
• English Department: 1.5-2 pages single-spaced
• Source: Allen School

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

• MechSE: ≤1000 words
• Financial Engineering: ≤300 words
• Climate & Meteorology: ≤1000 words
• Materials Science: ≤1000 words
• Computer Science: 1-2 pages
• Source: MechSE Requirements

Georgia Tech

• MS-HCI: ≤1000 words
• MS Analytics: ≤500 words
• Electrical & Computer Engineering: ≤1000 words (program page), 1000 characters (portal)
• Source: Graduate Admissions

University of Texas at Austin

• iSchool MSIS: ≤1000 words (PDF upload)
• Computer Science: ~2 pages
• Source: iSchool Admissions

University of Michigan

• Rackham: Personal statement ≤500 words (separate from SOP)
• Engineering: SOP 1-3 pages, Personal ≤500 words
• CSE: 3-page limit for SOP
• Source: Michigan Engineering

Northwestern University

• The Graduate School: Academic Statement 500-1000 words, Personal 125-250 words
• School of Professional Studies: 300-550 words
• Source: TGS Requirements

NYU

• Tandon: 1-2 pages SOP (Cyber Fellows: 250 words)
• GSAS: ≤1200 words
• Computer Science: ≤2 double-spaced pages
• Source: GSAS Statements

Duke University

• Graduate School: 1-2 pages single-spaced
• Sanford School: 500-750 words
• Source: Graduate School

Brown University

• Graduate School: 2-3 pages (personal statements)
• History: ≤1250 words, double-spaced, 12pt font
• English PhD: 1-3 pages typical
• Source: Graduate School FAQ

University of Pennsylvania

• English: ≤1200 words personal statement
• SEAS Online: 1000-1500 words
• Source: English Admissions

Johns Hopkins University

• Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering: ≤1000 words SOP, 1 page personal
• Electrical & Computer Engineering: ~2 pages, readable font
• Civil Engineering: 1-3 pages
• Source: Engineering Admissions

Purdue University

• Graduate School: Encouraged ≤2 pages (some suggest ~500 words)
• Computer Science: Structured format with specific sections recommended
• Civil Engineering: Up to 2 pages
• Chemical Engineering: ~2 pages or 1000 words
• Source: Graduate School

Cornell University

• Materials Science & Engineering: ≤2 pages, first paragraph 150-word summary
• M.Eng Programs: 1-2 pages, standard fonts, 500-700 words per essay
• ECE M.Eng: ≤1000 words
• Communication: Specific requirements vary
• Source: Engineering Admissions

University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Computer Science: 1-1.5 pages sufficient
• Engineering: ≤2 pages
• English: 300-500 words
• Source: CS FAQ

University of Minnesota

• Computer Science: 4000 characters (~700 words) strongly recommended
• Source: CS Admissions

University of Colorado Boulder

• Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering: ≤750 words
• Computer Science: 1-2 pages recommended, section headers suggested
• Source: ECEE Admissions

Ohio State University

• Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering: 2 double-spaced pages max, Times New Roman/Arial/Calibri 10-12pt, "Statement of Purpose" header required
• Source: MAE Requirements

Penn State University

• Energy & Mineral Engineering: 2-3 pages single-spaced, 1" margins, 11-12pt font
• Mechanical Engineering: 1-2 pages generally
• Source: EME Admissions

Michigan State University

• Engineering: ≤2 pages, Times New Roman 12pt, 1" margins, single-spaced, must include area of specialization statement
• Source: Engineering Admissions

Texas A&M University

• Engineering: 1 page strictly, Times New Roman 12pt
• Source: Engineering Admissions

Rice University

• General: 2 pages, Arial/Calibri 12pt, 1.5-2.0 spacing
• Materials Science: Maximum 2 pages
• Bioengineering MBE: ~500 words
• Source: Graduate Admissions

Boston University

• Engineering: ≤1500 words recommended
• Communication: ≤750 words double-spaced
• Biomedical Engineering: ≤1500 words
• Source: Engineering Admissions

Northeastern University

• Khoury: ≤1000 words
• Graduate Programs: 500-1000 words, single page typical, 11-12pt font
• Source: Khoury Admissions

Arizona State University

• Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies: ~1000 words (3-4 pages double-spaced)
• Computer Science/Engineering: 1-2 pages
• Source: SCAI Admissions

University of Florida

• MS AI Systems: ≤750 words
• Higher Education PhD: 1-2 pages
• MHS One Health: ≤1 page, single-spaced, 11pt font, 1" margins
• Source: Engineering Admissions

University of Arizona

• MS Data Science: 750-1000 words
• Source: Data Science Admissions

Iowa State University

• School of Education: ≤500 words
• Engineering: ≤500 words, essay format
• Source: Engineering Admissions

NC State University

• Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering: ~500 words (flexibility allowed)
• Source: CCEE Admissions

University of Utah

• Biomedical Engineering: ~500 words (~1 page)
• Kahlert School of Computing: 1-3 single-spaced pages
• Materials Science: 1-2 pages
• Source: CS Requirements

University of Rochester

• URMC Masters: ≤3 pages single-spaced
• Source: URMC Admissions

University at Buffalo (SUNY)

• Pharmaceutical Sciences: ≤500 words
• Source: Pharmacy Admissions

Stony Brook University

• Technological Systems Management: 1-3 pages
• Source: Graduate Admissions

Virginia Tech

• Engineering Programs: 1-2 pages double-spaced
• Source: Engineering Admissions

University of Notre Dame

• Graduate Programs: 1-3 double-spaced pages
• Source: Graduate School

University of Virginia

• Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: 500-1000 words
• Source: GSAS Requirements

Vanderbilt University

• All programs: No word count requirements (explicitly states this)
• Source: Official admissions pages

George Washington University

• SEAS Masters: 250-500 words
• SEAS Doctoral: 400-600 words (strict limit)
• Source: SEAS Admissions

Syracuse University

• Online Engineering: ~500 words double-spaced, name/DOB on each page
• Source: Online Engineering

Clemson University

• General preference: 1 page (longer acceptable)
• Source: Graduate admissions FAQ

University of Houston

• Computer Science: Maximum 1 page, include faculty of interest
• Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering: ≤2 pages ideally
• Source: CS Admissions

University of Illinois Chicago

• Computer Science: 1-2 pages
• Personal Statement: 250 words maximum (separate)
• Source: CS Admissions

Colorado School of Mines

• All Graduate Programs: 500-750 words, 1-2 pages maximum
• Source: Graduate Admissions

Rutgers University

• Computer Science MS: ~1 page
• Source: CS Admissions

University of Iowa

• Informatics: 1-2 pages, font ≥10pt
• Library & Information Science: 500-750 words
• Source: Informatics Admissions

University of Connecticut

• English: ~750 words, header with name/program/concentration
• Source: English Admissions

Oklahoma State University

• Public Health MPH: ≤1500 words
• Materials Science: Preferred 1 page maximum
• Source: Graduate College

Kansas State University

• Mathematics: ≤2 pages
• Source: Math Admissions

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Natural Resources: 2-3 double-spaced pages
• History: 1-2 single-spaced pages
• Source: Graduate Studies

Stevens Institute of Technology

• Business PhD: 3 pages
• Source: Admissions Requirements

Illinois Institute of Technology

• Graduate Programs: 150-200 words per question
• Source: Graduate Admissions

Additional Universities Without Explicit Requirements

The following universities require Statements of Purpose but provide no specific formatting guidelines on their official pages:

Caltech, University of Maryland, North Carolina State University (CS), University of Southern California (general), University of California Riverside, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Case Western Reserve University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Delaware, Washington University in St. Louis, Drexel University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Central Florida, Oregon State University, University of Tennessee Knoxville, University of Kansas

Special Considerations

Universities Requiring Both SOP and Personal Statement

These institutions require two separate documents:

• UCLA: 500 words each
• Harvard GSAS: 1000 words SOP + 500 words personal
• Northwestern: 500-1000 words academic + 125-250 words personal
• Columbia Engineering: 1000 words SOP + 250-1000 words personal
• Cornell M.Eng: Two essays, 500-700 words each
• Princeton: 1000 words SOP + 250 words personal
• UC Santa Cruz: 1-2 pages each (personal required for PhD only)
• Michigan: Varies by program
• Michigan State: 2 pages each

Department Variations Within Universities

Many universities have different requirements across departments:

• Penn State: Energy Engineering (2-3 pages detailed) vs. Mechanical (1-2 pages flexible)
• University of Houston: CS (1 page max) vs. MAE (2 pages)
• Cornell: ECE (1000 words) vs. Materials Science (2 pages)
• Purdue: Graduate School (500 words) vs. Engineering (2 pages)

Recommendations for Applicants

When no explicit requirements exist, use these defaults:

• Length: 500-1000 words or 1-2 single-spaced pages
• Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 11-12pt
• Margins: 1 inch all around
• Spacing: Single-spaced unless specified otherwise
• Structure: Clear introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion

Always prioritize department-specific requirements over university-wide guidelines when conflicts exist.

Data Sources and Methodology

This survey compiled official requirements from:

• University admissions websites
• Department-specific application pages
• Graduate school handbooks
• Official application portals

Data current as of November 2025. Requirements change frequently - always verify with official sources before submitting applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if my program isn't listed? A: Use the general patterns identified above as guidance, and check your specific program's website.

Q: Should I follow Graduate School or Department requirements? A: Always follow department-specific requirements when available, as they supersede general guidelines.

Q: What about international universities? A: This survey focuses on US institutions. International requirements vary significantly by country and system.

Q: How strict are these requirements? A: Programs with detailed specifications (like Texas A&M's 1-page limit) typically enforce them strictly. Programs without specifications offer more flexibility.

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Last updated: November 5, 2025. For the most current requirements, always consult official university websites.