Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private

Official website

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Admission rate

Yale University admitted 4.7% of applicants university-wide (2,387 of 50,264).

CohortAdmit rateAdmittedApplicants
University-wide4.7%2,38750,264
Restrictive Early Action10.9%7797,140
Men5.2%1,18922,819
Women4.4%1,19827,445

Restrictive Early Action applicants were admitted at 10.9%, vs 4.7% overall (2026-2027 cycle, per the school's own announcement). Yale News, Dec 17 2025 (Class of 2030)

Of 2,387 admitted students, 1,633 enrolled (68.4% yield).

Yale University Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Sections C1–C2 · 2025Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.

Test scores and GPA of admitted students

SAT (mid-50%)
1480–1560
ACT (mid-50%)
33–35
GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
3.504.00

Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)

Yale University Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Sections C9–C12 · 2025Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.

Cost and financial aid

Published cost of attendance: $98,900/yr.

Out-of-state tuition$72,500
Fees, housing, food, books & other$26,400
Sticker cost of attendance$98,900/yr

Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)

Under $30k$17,633
$30k–48k$15,626
$48k–75k$17,943
$75k–110k$12,558
Over $110k$45,951

U.S. Dept. of Education · College Scorecard — average net price by family income (Title IV, from IPEDS) · 2023

US applicants

Need- and merit-based aid available.

  • Yale ScholarshipVaries; up to full demonstrated need (Need Based)

International applicants

Meets full demonstrated need for internationals.

  • Yale ScholarshipVaries; up to full demonstrated need (Need Based)

Yale University Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Sections G–H · 2025

Application requirements

US applicants

  • Two letters of recommendation from teachers in core academic subjects
  • One letter of recommendation from counselor or school administrator
  • School Report with official transcript
  • Mid-Year Report with senior first marking period grades
  • ACT or SAT scores
  • Application fee

International applicants

  • Two letters of recommendation from teachers in core academic subjects
  • One letter of recommendation from counselor or school administrator
  • School Report with official transcript
  • Mid-Year Report with senior first marking period grades
  • ACT or SAT scores
  • Application fee
  • English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
  • GPA credential conversion
  • Predicted Class XII marksheet
  • Financial documentation (I-20)

Yale University · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025

Essay prompts

The Common App personal essay is required (one of 7 shared prompts), plus 7 college-specific supplements:

  1. Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it?200 words · Required
  2. Reflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.400 words · Choose from this set
  3. What is one aspect of yourself that you hope to grow or develop during college?Required
  4. If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?Required
  5. Reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?400 words · Choose from this set
  6. Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?400 words · Choose from this set
  7. What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?Required

Draft these in the free Essay Coach

Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026

Graduate outcomes

Median earnings
$100,533
Median earnings · 10 years after entry
Graduation rate
95.7%
Within 150% of normal time
First-year retention
99.4%
Return for year two · CDS Section B
Median debt
$12,975
At graduation

Yale University · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.

Published rankings

  • U.S. News National: #4
  • WSJ: #3
  • Forbes: #9
  • Niche: #2
  • QS: #21

Deadlines

  • 2026-11-01Early ActionNon-binding early round
  • 2027-01-02Regular DecisionStandard deadline

Yale University Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Sections C21–C22 · 2025

Academics and campus

Largest degree fields: Social sciences (23%), Biological & life sciences (11%), Interdisciplinary studies (11%).

Student–faculty ratio: 9:1 · 73% of class sections have under 20 students.

Yale University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections E, F, I · 2024Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.

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