Trajecta score
+1.6 since '20Ranked #8 of 2,375
5-year trend
83.8 · #9
2020
87.8 · #7
2021
87.2 · #4
2022
84.1 · #19
2023
85.4 · #16
2024
Academic Profile
98/ 100
Career Outcomes
90/ 100
Student Success
97/ 100
Affordability
69/ 100
Academic Investment
99/ 100
Access & Equity
56/ 100
Academic Profile
98
Career Outcomes
90
Student Success
97
Affordability
69
Academic Investment
99
Access & Equity
56
AI Fit Analysis
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See how your profile stacks up at Yale University — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$88k / $24k
SAT Avg
1,534
Retention
99%
Grad Rate
96%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$67,250
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$67,250
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
20%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
5%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$12,975
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Yale University reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Very Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Very Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Very Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Very Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Very Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗Short Answer — Academic Areas
RequiredSelect up to three academic areas from a provided list; not a free-text word-limited response.Students at Yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided.
Short Answer — Topic or Idea That Excites You
Required200 wordsTell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it?
Short Take — Teach/Write/Create
Required200 characters or fewer (approximately 35 words)If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?
Short Take — Growth During College
Required200 characters or fewer (approximately 35 words)What is one aspect of yourself that you hope to grow or develop during college?
Short Take — Not Elsewhere in Application
Required200 characters or fewer (approximately 35 words)What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?
Essay — Discussing an Issue with Someone Holding an Opposing View
RequiredChoose 1400 wordsReflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?
Essay — Membership in a Community
RequiredChoose 1400 wordsReflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.
Essay — Personal Experience That Will Enrich Your College
RequiredChoose 1400 wordsReflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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