3.9%
Acceptance Rate
$67,250
Avg Cost (In-State)
$67,250
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
96%
Graduation Rate
6,758
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 2
Early Deadline
November 1 (Single-Choice Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
3
Letters of Rec
3
Application Fee
$80
Interview
Available
Essays: Personal essay (650 words) plus two Yale-specific short essays (250 words each)
Note: ASC (Alumni Schools Committee) interview available but not required; mid-year school report required
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$81,765
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$100,533
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
96%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government. | $57,466 | $90,764 | 93 |
| Economics. | $82,617 | $142,936 | 88 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $61,133 | $113,788 | 54 |
| History. | $54,700 | $109,947 | 51 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | $40,299 | $92,646 | 46 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $133,293 | $188,157 | 40 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | $47,874 | $65,752 | 31 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | $32,624 | $65,213 | 31 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Yale University
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Yale University
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Yellow Ribbon — Yale University
Covers 100% tuition gap above Post-9/11 GI Bill cap (unlimited match)
federalPost-9/11 GI Bill-eligible veterans + dependents at Yale.
Deadline: Through Yale + VA
Learn more ↗Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
Up to $55,000/year
nationalHigh-achieving high school seniors with financial need (family income under $95,000). Minimum 3.5 GPA.
Deadline: November 18
Learn more ↗Siemens Competition (now part of Regeneron ISEF)
Up to $100,000
activityHigh school students who compete in regional and national ISEF-affiliated science fairs.
Deadline: Varies by regional fair
Learn more ↗Regeneron Science Talent Search
Up to $250,000 (top award)
activityHigh school seniors who complete an independent science, math, or engineering research project.
Deadline: November (registration opens in June)
Learn more ↗Gates Scholarship
Full cost of attendance (last-dollar funding)
nationalPell-eligible high school seniors who are Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Native American with a minimum 3.3 GPA.
Deadline: September 15
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $17,633 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $15,626 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $17,943 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $12,558 |
| $110,001+ | $45,951 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for Yale University →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 3.9% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Restrictive Early Action
9%
acceptance
ED edgeSingle-Choice Early Action. Class of 2028 SCEA admit ~9%.
Source ↗Regular Decision
3.7%
acceptance
Overall admit ~3.7% Class of 2028.
Source ↗Regular Decision
3.87%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
17.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
18.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
7.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
24.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
70.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
99.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
97.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
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