Interesting question. Here’s some info.
The oldest data I could find on the Common Data Set is for the class entering in the fall of 1998. 1,614 frosh entered (data as of 6/23/1998).
1998: 1,614
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2012: 1,765 (Stanford screwed up by admitting too many)
2013: 1,677
2014: 1,678
2015: 1,720
2016: 1,730 (expected, goal)
Shaw said in a recent interview that the goal for the fall of 2016 is 1,730. The article is linked below.
Not sure what this shows. I guess a minor increase. There are some new dorms, so finally all undergraduates may live on campus for all 4 years. Not sure if this is formally guaranteed, but I think it effectively is. My understanding is that close to 100% of undergrads no live on campus. Palo Alto is too expensive. Oak Creek is no longer housing undergrads due to the new dorms. Good developments all the way around.
FWIW: I’m not sure where Hennessy was/is coming from on expanding the size of the undergraduate population. I think in general he wants things to be bigger. See the NYC proposed campus which the board had the wisdom to nix. As Shaw mentions, even with some extra students the admit rate will be very low.
Here’s the Shaw article: