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Rank #4

Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private · Midsize City · Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Source: Forbes America's Top Colleges 2024Updated: 1/15/2025Enrollment: 14,776Student-Faculty: 6:1

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Key Stats in Context

Acceptance Rate4.6%
Extremely selective

Strong grades and test scores are table stakes — most qualified applicants are turned away

Average SAT1,530
Exceptional

Near-perfect scores are common — testing is a strength of this student body

Average Net Price$18,500
Affordable

Reasonable cost that many families can manage with some planning

Median Earnings (10yr)$89,500
Strong

Graduates earn significantly more than average — the degree carries real economic weight

Freshman Retention98.0%
Excellent

Nearly all students return — a sign that students are thriving

Graduation Rate97.0%
Excellent

Nearly everyone graduates — strong academic support and student commitment

Student-Faculty Ratio6:1
Very small classes

Exceptionally low ratio — expect close mentorship and personalized attention

Crime Rate (per 1,000)7.1
Above average

Higher than typical — worth reviewing specific incident types and campus safety resources

Median Debt at Graduation$11,500
Very manageable

Low debt burden — monthly payments will be very reasonable after graduation

Peer Comparison

Compared against similarly-ranked schools

Yale University

#4
Acceptance4.6%
Net Price$18,500
Earnings (10y)$89,500
Graduation97.0%
Retention98.0%

Stanford University

#1
Acceptance3.6%
Net Price$17,000
Earnings (10y)$97,500
Graduation95.0%
Retention98.0%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#2
Acceptance3.8%
Net Price$19,998
Earnings (10y)$124,700
Graduation95.0%
Retention99.0%

University of California, Berkeley

#3
Acceptance11.0%
Net Price$18,400
Earnings (10y)$79,800
Graduation92.0%
Retention96.0%

Program-Level Earnings & Debt

Median earnings and debt by field of study at this school

Social Sciences$68,000$10,000
Biological Sciences$55,000$11,000
History$52,000$10,500
English$45,000$10,000
Computer Science$115,000$11,000
Psychology$50,000$10,500
Mathematics$90,000$10,000
ProgramEarningsDebt

Admissions & Test Scores

Acceptance rate4.6%
Average SAT1,530
SAT Math (25th-75th)740–800
SAT Reading (25th-75th)730–780
ACT Midpoint35
Graduation rate97.0%
Freshman retention98.0%
Student-faculty ratio6:1

Cost & Financial Aid

In-state tuition$62,250
Out-of-state tuition$62,250
Cost of attendance$83,880
Average net price$18,500
Pell Grant recipients15.0%
Median debt at graduation$11,500
Federal loan rate10.0%
Loan default rate (3yr)0.3%

Outcomes & Earnings

Median earnings (10 years)$89,500
Enrollment14,776
Campus settingMidsize City
Official sitewww.yale.edu

Campus Safety

Total on-campus crimes105
Crime rate per 1,000 students7.1

Academic Programs

Social Sciences18.0%
Biological Sciences12.0%
History8.0%
English6.0%
Computer Science6.0%
Psychology5.0%
Mathematics4.0%

Student Demographics

Female51.0%
Part-time1.0%
White35.0%
Black8.0%
Hispanic15.0%
Asian20.0%