Yale University combines highly selective admissions with exceptional career outcomes. As a Selective Achievers institution, the university produces $16,018 in earnings beyond expectations while maintaining debt levels well below peer institutions, delivering among the strongest return on educational investment we track.
With among the highest performance we track, driven by exceptional long-term earnings and controlled debt levels
Around the national average, reflecting higher sticker prices partially offset by financial aid
With well above average performance, reflecting selective admission balanced with meaningful enrollment of diverse students
With well above average outcomes, indicating strong economic advancement for enrolled students
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisYale University delivers exceptional earnings outcomes that justify its premium positioning in higher education. Graduates earn a median of $100,533 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 98th percentile nationally and substantially outperforming the peer median of $63,066 by $37,467 annually.
Earnings range from $66,022 at the 25th percentile to $193,688 at the 75th percentile, reflecting both strong baseline outcomes and significant upside potential across diverse career paths. The institution generates $16,018 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it in the 91.9th percentile nationally on this measure of value creation.
Students seeking prestigious liberal arts education with exceptional post-graduation earning potential. Well-suited for high-achieving students who can navigate highly selective admissions (4.5% acceptance rate) and value strong alumni networks that deliver substantial career advantages.
Yale's Selective Achievers profile reflects outstanding outcomes while serving fewer Pell-eligible students than typical institutions.
Yale University admits approximately 4.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 22 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Yale among the most selective universities in the United States, competing directly with Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton for admission difficulty.
The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Yale's selectivity and typical four-year institutions, representing a 66 percentage point gap that underscores the institution's elite positioning. Even among highly selective private universities, Yale's acceptance rate places it in the most competitive tier.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Yale University's published cost of attendance reaches $85,120 per year, including $64,700 in tuition, $19,180 for room and board, and $1,000 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $27,818 after financial aid, representing savings of $57,302 compared to the sticker price.
This substantial aid reduction reflects Yale's commitment to need-based financial assistance and endowment resources that enable significant tuition discounting. Yale's average net price of $27,818 positions slightly above the peer median of $27,143 by $675, indicating comparable affordability within the highly selective private university tier.
The institution's financial aid profile concentrates substantial assistance toward lower and middle-income families, with net prices varying dramatically based on family economic circumstances. Net prices range from $28,132 for families earning under $30,000 to $49,347 for families earning over $110,000, demonstrating a progressive aid structure that makes Yale accessible across income levels despite its premium sticker price.
This cost structure enables students from diverse economic backgrounds to access Yale's exceptional career outcomes and alumni networks, though families should carefully evaluate their specific aid eligibility through net price calculators and financial aid modeling.
Artificial Intelligence.
96 graduates
Applied Economics.
198 graduates
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
62 graduates
American Government and Politics (United States).
159 graduates
American History (United States).
108 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trinity College Higher acceptance rate (29 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 33 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 34% | $90,779 | Compare |
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This is the Yale University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/yale-university/analysis.
Exceptional return on investment nationwide
Yale University ranks #67 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with return performance at the 99.3rd percentile. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, this medium-sized private nonprofit university maintains extremely selective admission standards with a 4.5% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Yale enrolls 19.2% Pell-eligible students and 25.0% first-generation students, positioning it below typical access measures but within range for highly selective private institutions. Graduates earn $16,018 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 91.9th percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $100,533 ten years after enrollment, placing Yale in the 98th percentile for long-term earnings outcomes. Compared to a peer median of $63,066, graduates earn $37,467 more annually.
This combination of highly selective admissions, controlled access, and exceptional economic outcomes places Yale firmly within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions deliver outstanding career results while serving a more advantaged student population.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with perfect test scores, outstanding academic records, and compelling extracurricular achievements—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would excel at Yale do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots.
The university's 4.5% admission rate reflects both its academic reputation and the intense competition among top-tier institutions for the strongest applicants. For this reason, students considering Yale should build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes.
Treating Yale as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy, and students should focus on demonstrating authentic fit with Yale's academic culture and opportunities.
Yale University graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth and exceptional long-term financial outcomes. Median earnings rise from $81,765 six years after enrollment to $94,821 at eight years and $100,533 at ten years, representing 23.0% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 408 graduates, providing solid confidence in the reported figures across Yale's diverse academic programs. Graduates earn $16,018 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Yale in the 91.9th percentile for earnings uplift relative to student demographics and institutional characteristics.
Low-income graduates earn $123,400, demonstrating exceptional outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds and ranking among the top 5% of institutions nationally on this measure. Earnings span from $66,022 at the 25th percentile to $193,688 at the 75th percentile, reflecting the broad range of career outcomes across Yale's liberal arts and professional preparation programs.
Approximately 23.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and immediate workforce entry across multiple career trajectories.
Yale University offers 15 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for ranking analysis. Artificial Intelligence ranks #2 nationally and #1 in Connecticut, producing 96 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $203,685 and a value score of 99.5.
Applied Economics ranks #8 nationally and #1 in Connecticut, graduating 198 students with median earnings of $125,006 and strong value performance. American Government and Politics ranks #1 nationally, graduating 159 students with median earnings of $98,467 and a perfect 100.0 value score.
American History ranks #3 nationally and #1 in Connecticut, with 108 graduates earning $77,988. Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies ranks #2 nationally and #1 in Connecticut, graduating 62 students with median earnings of $104,899.
These programs demonstrate Yale's strength across both technical fields and traditional liberal arts disciplines, with multiple #1 state rankings reflecting the institution's academic excellence and career preparation effectiveness.
College Of The Holy Cross Higher acceptance rate (16.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 86 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 21% | $90,543 | Compare |
Suny Maritime College Higher acceptance rate (74 percentage points higher) and located 57 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 79% | $95,951 | Compare |
Bucknell University Higher acceptance rate (27.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 32% | $93,807 | Compare |
Lafayette College Higher acceptance rate (27 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 31% | $91,410 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vanderbilt University Similar quality tier (#69 ranked) | TN | 6% | $91,565 | #69 | Compare |
Cornell University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#62 ranked) | NY | 8% | $104,043 | #62 | Compare |
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Northeast (#60 ranked) | MA | 5% | $143,372 | #60 | Compare |
University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier in Northeast (#80 ranked) | PA | 6% | $111,371 | #80 | Compare |
University Of Chicago Similar quality tier (#85 ranked) | IL | 5% | $91,885 | #85 | Compare |
