Admit rate has ranged 5%–7% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Yale University isn't just an Ivy League institution—it's a Gothic wonderland of intellectual intensity, where 18% of undergraduates are first-generation students and economics majors outnumber philosophy students by a factor of 14. With a 97% graduation rate and median alumni earnings of $64,379, Yale delivers on its promise of transforming brilliant minds into influential leaders, all while maintaining quirky traditions like secret societies and a residential college system that feels straight out of Hogwarts.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
6,758
In-state tuition
$67,250
Out-of-state tuition
$67,250
Top Major
Economics
Median Debt
$12,975
Acceptance Rate
3.9-4.5%
Graduation Rate
97%
First-Gen Students
18%
Residential Colleges
14
Early Career Earnings
$64,379
Student-Faculty Ratio
5:1
Financial Aid Recipients
49%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$100,533
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
4.2×
Median debt at graduation
$12,975
Graduation rate
96%
First-year retention
99%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
86%
Pell (lower-income) share
67%
First-generation share
25%
Endowment / student
$6,132,235
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer and Information Sciences, General$122,038
Economics$86,621
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$60,161
International Relations and National Security Studies$52,107
Political Science and Government$48,823
English Language and Literature, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
21
Per 1,000 students
3.11
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
96
Summer high
80°F
Winter low
28°F
Annual rain
56.3"
Annual snow
22.4"
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023).
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
1,796
Scholarly works
410,365
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Yale University?
Yale University's acceptance rate is approximately 4% (New Haven, CT), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Yale University?
Admitted students at Yale University typically score 1470–1570 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Yale University cost?
At Yale University, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,777 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Yale University?
Yale University enrolls approximately 6,758 undergraduate students.
Where is Yale University located?
Yale University is located in New Haven, CT.
Admissions
Getting into Yale is harder than convincing a New Haven pizza snob to try Chicago deep dish—the Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovers around 3.9-4.5%, with Restrictive Early Action applicants facing slightly better odds. The middle 50% of admitted students boast SAT scores between 1480-1560 (95th percentile or above), while 97% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. Character counts heavily here—Yale explicitly states personal qualities are 'very important'—and the 5:1 student-faculty ratio means every applicant is scrutinized intensely. First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. students make up 18% of recent classes, with representation from all 50 states and over 100 countries.
Acceptance Rate: 3.9-4.5% (varies by cycle)
Test Scores: SAT 1480-1560 middle 50%, ACT 31+
Class Rank: 97% top 10%
Key Factors: Character, academic rigor, first-gen status (18%)
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$47,260
History$47,260
Area Studies$39,009
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Mobility rate
2.1%
Bottom → top quintile
57%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Yale's academic ecosystem is a buffet of intellectual rigor without the constraints of a core curriculum—students choose among 80+ majors, from African Studies to Applied Physics. The three most popular majors (Economics, Computer Science, and Political Science) attract nearly a third of undergraduates, while niche programs like Ethnicity, Race & Migration cater to specialized interests. Every department is world-class, but the social sciences dominate, accounting for 40% of degrees. The open curriculum allows for quirky academic combinations—imagine pairing Cognitive Science with Theater Studies—while small seminars (often under 20 students) foster intense mentorship.
Top 3 Majors: Economics (140 grads), Computer Science (97), Political Science (92)
Unique Offerings: No core curriculum, 80+ majors
Class Sizes: 75% under 20 students
Notable Fact: 5:1 student-faculty ratio enables thesis mentoring
Life at Yale oscillates between Harry Potter-esque traditions and 21st-century hustle—students debate in Gothic libraries by day and flock to New Haven's legendary pizza joints by night. The 14 residential colleges (each with its own dining hall, library, and secret societies) create micro-communities, while campus-wide events like Spring Fling and the Harvard-Yale Game fuel school spirit. Students describe the culture as 'collaborative but intense,' with a thriving arts scene (20% participate in theater) and 500+ student organizations ranging from the Yale Whiffenpoofs to competitive robotics teams. The architecture—a mix of Collegiate Gothic and modern gems like the Eero Saarinen-designed hockey rink—makes every walk to class feel cinematic.
A Yale degree is a golden ticket—97% graduate within six years (most in four), and alumni median earnings hit $64,379 early career. The most common first destinations are finance (25%), tech (20%), and academia (15%), with prestigious fellowships like Rhodes and Fulbrights flowing steadily. Four years post-graduation, 40% of alumni are in grad school, often at peer institutions like Harvard Law or Johns Hopkins Medicine. The kicker? Median debt is just $12,975 thanks to generous aid—meaning even poetry majors see strong ROI.
Graduation Rate: 97% in 6 years
Median Earnings: $64,379 (early career)
Top Sectors: Finance (25%), Tech (20%), Academia (15%)
Yale's sticker price might induce sticker shock ($80,000+), but its financial aid is the Ivy League's most generous—families earning under $75,000 pay nothing, and the average aid package covers 100% of demonstrated need with $73,000 in grants. The 'Zero Parent Share' policy means even books and personal expenses ($3,700/year) are covered for lowest-income students. 49% of undergrads receive aid, with packages often exceeding tuition alone. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator reveals surprising affordability—a family making $150,000 might pay less than a state school.
Average Aid Package: $73,000 (covers 100% need)
Net Price: $26,044 after aid
Low-Income Policy: $0 contribution under $75k income
Yale distinguishes itself through three singular features: its residential college system (imagine Hogwarts houses with academic advisors), a financial aid program that makes elite education accessible to 18% First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. students, and an intellectual culture that prizes interdisciplinary weirdness—where else could you major in 'Computing and the Arts' while singing in the oldest collegiate a cappella group? The combination of world-class resources (like the Beinecke Rare Book Library) with intimate mentorship creates leaders who dominate fields from Supreme Court benches to Broadway stages. Its secret societies may be opaque, but Yale's value proposition isn't: unparalleled access, no matter your background.
Yale University logo · sourceCT's Yale University makes list of 'most beautiful places' to visit · sourceLife at Yale | Yale University · sourcePlan Your Visit | Yale Visitor Center · source
