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Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut 06520

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

UrbanSports culture

Among the most selective in the Northeast — top graduate earnings

Yale University is a private institution in New Haven with particular strength in biology and computer science. With an average SAT of 1534, the school attracts a competitive applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 6.8K undergraduates with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

96% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $100,533 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $27,818.

Established
1701
Motto
Lux et veritas
Mascot
Handsome Dan
Type
Private research university
Conference
Ivy League Conference
Division
Division I

Plan Your Visit

Admission Office

38 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511

(203) 432-9300[email protected]

5%Acceptance
1534SAT Avg
6,811Students
6:1Student:Faculty
96%Grad Rate
$100,533Earnings 10yr
$27,818Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate4.5%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1534

Reading & WritingMid: 755
740780
MathMid: 775
760800

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 34
3335

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-OptionalNo Demonstrated InterestHolistic ReviewAlumni Interviews

Application Platforms

Common AppCoalition

Early Action (Restrictive)

November 1

Decision by Mid-December

Regular Decision

January 2

Decision by Late March

Reply by May 1

Yale is test-optional for the Class of 2029 and beyond

Yale requires several short-answer questions and essays in addition to the main personal statement

Financial Aid

Need-Blind Meets 100% Need No-Loan Policy Work-StudyNeed-Based Only
Students receiving aid
0.53%

Yale eliminated loans from all financial aid packages

Yale is need-blind for all applicants, including international students

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$64,700
Room & Board$19,180
Books & Supplies$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance$85,120
Average Net Price$27,818
Median Debt at Graduation$12,975
Monthly Payment (10yr)$138

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$28,132
$30–48K$19,744
$48–75K$20,900
$75–110K$17,004
$110K+$49,347

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

94.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.6%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$11,648

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

51

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

13

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

4

Motor Vehicle Theft

5

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

14

Drug Arrests

10

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Core/Distribution RequirementsSemesterPhi Beta KappaFirst-Year SeminarCustom MajorsDouble Major OK
Majors
80
Avg class size
13
Student-faculty ratio
6:1
Study abroad
17%

Yale has distributional requirements across humanities, sciences, social sciences, quantitative reasoning, writing, and foreign language

Research: Yale provides extensive research opportunities through funded summer programs and academic year research assistantships

Thesis: Senior projects available in most majors; required for some

Programs (190)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

99%

Very Positive

Campus Life

Campus size
1,015 acres
Organizations
500+
Varsity teams
35
Division IIvy LeagueNo Greek Life

Yale-Harvard rivalry is one of the oldest in college sports

Housing & Residential Life

4-Year Housing Guarantee
On campus
0.88%
Residence halls
14

Housing Styles

residential colleges

Old Campus for most first-years

Student Body

Undergrads
6,811
Gender Split
52% / 48%
Women / Men
First Generation
25%
Pell Grant Recipients
19%

Race & Ethnicity

White 32%
Black 9%
Hispanic 16%
Asian 23%
Two+ 7%
Int'l 11%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate96.3%
Freshman Retention99.0%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$81,765
10 Years$100,533

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Notable Alumni

George H.W. Bush '48

41st President of the United States

George W. Bush '68

43rd President of the United States

Bill Clinton '73

42nd President of the United States

Hillary Clinton (Law '73)

Former U.S. Secretary of State and Senator

Meryl Streep '75

Academy Award-winning actress

Jodie Foster '85

Academy Award-winning actress and director

Paul Krugman '74

Nobel Prize-winning economist

More About This School

Varsity Sports

BasketballBasketball tournamentLacrosseLacrosse championshipEightsTeam trains

History & Fun Facts

  • The school moved to Saybrook in 1703, when the first treasurer of Yale, Nathaniel Lynde, donated land and a building.
  • Through the persuasion of Jeremiah Dummer, Yale, who had made a fortune in Madras while working for the East India Company as the first president of Fort St.
  • The 1714 shipment of 500 books represented the best of modern English literature, science, philosophy and theology.
  • In 1722, the rector and six friends, who had a study group to discuss the new ideas, announced they had given up Calvinism, become Arminians, and joined the Church of England.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

138Very High

Estimated from CT state average + city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

New Yorkpop. 8.3M
70 mi(121 min)
Bostonpop. 675K
120 mi(208 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
150 mi(260 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ISP Long Island MacArthur37 mi
BDL Hartford Bradley45 mi
LGA New York LaGuardia62 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA120 mi · ~3h 28m drive
New York, NY70 mi · ~2h 1m drive
Hartford, CT34 mi · ~59 min drive
Providence, RI86 mi · ~2h 29m drive
Albany, NY102 mi · ~2h 57m drive
Syracuse, NY204 mi · ~5h 54m drive
Rochester, NY271 mi · ~7h 50m drive
Buffalo, NY324 mi · ~9h 22m drive
Philadelphia, PA150 mi · ~4h 20m drive
Pittsburgh, PA374 mi · ~10h 48m drive
Harrisburg, PA219 mi · ~6h 20m drive
Newark, NJ76 mi · ~2h 12m drive
Trenton, NJ121 mi · ~3h 30m drive
Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Getting Around

Walkability

Compact, walkable campus in downtown New Haven with shuttle service and bike-friendly infrastructure

Nearby Attractions

Yale University Art Gallerywalkable

Oldest university art museum in the Western Hemisphere

Peabody Museum of Natural Historywalkable

Natural history museum with dinosaur exhibits

New Haven Greenwalkable

Historic 16-acre park in downtown New Haven

Wooster Square

Historic neighborhood known for excellent pizza

East Rock Park

Park with hiking trails and panoramic views

Transfer Admission

Fall Transfer

March 1

Minimum credits
18 semester hours
GPA recommendation
Strong academic performance in rigorous college coursework
Common App

Need-blind for transfer applicants. Full financial need met.

International Students

Meets 100% Need
International students
0.13%

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL100
IELTS7.0
Duolingo120

Deadline Calendar

Yale University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications