Yale University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Yale University is a private institution located in New Haven, Connecticut and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Yale University admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 5%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1530 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,777 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Yale University?

Successful applicants to Yale University typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.

What does Yale University weight in admissions?

Yale University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Yale University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 740–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 755. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Yale University actually cost?

Published tuition is $67,250 for in-state students and $67,250 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,900 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,777 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Yale University

Will my child graduate from Yale University?

These predict outcomes at Yale University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Yale University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Yale University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Political Science and Government and Computer and Information Sciences, General. Across all programs, Yale University confers roughly 853 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $131,171 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Yale University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Yale University disclosed 287 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 42.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 44 violent offenses and 38 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Yale University?

About 77% of undergraduates at Yale University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Connecticut parents ask about

• University of Connecticut
  52% acceptance
• University of Hartford
  96% acceptance
• Trinity College
  29% acceptance
• Wesleyan University
  16% acceptance
• Connecticut College
  37% acceptance
• Fairfield University
  33% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• Brown University
  5% acceptance · Rhode Island
• Dartmouth College
  5% acceptance · New Hampshire

Common questions parents ask about Yale University