UNIVERSITY · CDS 2024-2025
Yale University
New Haven, CT 6,814 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
Ivy+Residential Colleges
Accept
3.9%
Yield
69.8%
Test
Optional
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%, computed)
1470–1570
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
730–780
SAT Math (mid 50%)
740–790
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
33–35
GPA
Not reported
GPA NOTE96% of enrolled students were in the top tenth of their high school graduating class. Yale does not report average GPA.
METHODTotal SAT range is computed by summing the reported EBRW and Math mid-50% ranges from the school’s CDS (Section C9). Use as an approximation — a student’s actual total places them within, not at, the summed endpoints.
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| REA | Nov 1 | — | Restrictive Early Action: Nov 1, ~NR% |
| RD | Jan 2 | — | Regular Decision: Jan 2, ~NR% |
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$72,500
Total COA
$97,985
Avg need-based aid
$74,040
Avg merit award
None
Net price after avg need aid
$23,945
Yale meets 100% of demonstrated need on average.
ImportantYale does not award non-need merit scholarships. All institutional aid is need-based. Use this honestly with families: a strong applicant here gets in, but the price is set by the FAFSA/CSS, not by stats.
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
Yale's AP Policy
Yale awards acceleration credit for AP scores of 5 on many exams, which can allow students to graduate in a shorter amount of time. A maximum of two acceleration credits can be earned in any single subject.
Min score
5
Credit cap
2 credits
Mode
Placement only
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankVery Important
- Academic GPAVery Important
- Standardized test scoresVery Important
- Application essayVery Important
- Recommendation(s)Very Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
Yale is committed to improving the world today and for future generations through outstanding research and scholarship, education, preservation, and practice. Yale educates aspiring leaders worldwide who serve all sectors of society. We carry out this mission through the free exchange of ideas in an ethical, interdependent, and diverse community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Distilled Themes
Educational OpportunityCurricular InnovationCommunity of LearningShared Mission
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01Yale wants to see students who are not just academically gifted, but also passionate about making a positive impact on the world.
- 02They value students who have demonstrated leadership, a commitment to service, and a willingness to engage with diverse perspectives.
- 03Your application should tell a story about who you are and what you care about, not just what you've accomplished.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrate a deep and genuine intellectual curiosity that goes beyond just getting good grades.
- 02Show how you have taken initiative in your learning and how you will contribute to Yale's academic community.
- 03Highlight your commitment to your community and your desire to make a difference.
- 04Showcase your leadership skills and your ability to work collaboratively with others.
- 05Finally, write a compelling and personal essay that reveals your unique voice and personality.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- A generic application that could be sent to any top university
- A lack of demonstrated interest in Yale specifically
- An application that focuses too much on accomplishments and not enough on personal growth and reflection
- Essays that are not well-written or that do not reveal the applicant's authentic voice
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
Jackson School of Global AffairsYale Law SchoolDavid Geffen School of DramaSchool of the EnvironmentMacMillan Center for International and Area StudiesTobin Center for Economic Policy
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Restrictive Early Action
Non-binding, restrictive
Single-Choice Early Action
Nov 1, 2025
→ Mid-December
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Jan 2, 2026
→ Late March
Early Decision I
Not offered
—
Early Decision II
Not offered
—
Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (2024-2025)
Not trackedWeight: Not Considered
Yale does not track demonstrated interest; their official policy states that all applicants are evaluated identically regardless of contact.
Save the energy
Do not spend effort on interest signals—focus on essays and academics instead.
Provenance