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Yale University

New Haven, CT
Known forUltra-selectiveHigh yieldTop test scoresVery small student-faculty ratioDraws students nationallyBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rate

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Entered fall 2024: 99.4% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 98.8%)Yale University Common Data Set 2025–26

Source:Yale University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 26 applicants admitted

Yale admits about 1 in 26 applicants (3.9%). That puts it in the "Most selective" tier, more selective than 100% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

3.9%

3.9%

acceptance rateMost selective

Applied

57,517

Admitted

2,227

Yield

70%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1480–1560

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–35

1836
Applications +86% since fall 2014 · admit rate 6.3% → 3.9%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 6,758 undergrads, where 20% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

6.8K

undergrads · larger than 83% of colleges

Diversity index

0.80

Pell Grant

20%

below the median

First generation

25%

below the median

Midsize cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-I FCS · Ivy GroupROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.72 → 0.80 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (11% of graduates). 5 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 96% of colleges. 75% of faculty are full-time. Spends $80,541 a year on instruction per student.

5 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 96% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

11% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$188.2K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

75%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$80.5K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $51,439 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $27.2K more than the national median. The 56% who received grants paid $22,408 on average; the other 44% paid the full sticker price of $88,300.

42%

$51.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $27.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$88,300 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 42% of full price

Federal loans

5%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Cost steady · −4% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $100,533 ten years after enrolling, more than at 98% of colleges; 98% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.0 years of that salary.

98%

98%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$100.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$13K

≈ $138/month for 10 years

Retention

99%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 96% → 96% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 9% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 4%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 86% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 6.3% to 3.9%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −4% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +86%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 6% → 4%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.72 → 0.80

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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3.6% admit · SAT 1550 · 7.6K undergrads

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5.4% admit · SAT 1535 · 7.4K undergrads

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Johns Hopkins University

6.4% admit · SAT 1545 · 5.7K undergrads

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Princeton University

4.6% admit · SAT 1545 · 5.7K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Yale University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Yale University · Fall 2025; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2024; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Yale University (2026–27)

    Yale University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  13. 13
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Yale University (2026)

    Yale University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 130794 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything