Yale University Acceptance Rate (3.9%) & SAT/ACT Scores

Q: What percent of applicants does Yale University accept?

Yale University's acceptance rate was 3.9% for fall 2024: it admitted 2,227 of 57,517 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

Acceptance rate: 3.9% for fall 2024

SAT, middle 50%: 730–780 reading and writing, 740–790 math

ACT, middle 50%: 33–35 composite

Average net price: $26,044 a year (2022–23)

Yale University GPA calculator

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Add a test score to compare it with what Yale University reported: an acceptance rate of 3.9% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 33–35.

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A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Yale University reviews each application.

Yale University GPA requirements

Yale University doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Yale University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.

Yale University acceptance rate

Yale University admitted 2,227 of 57,517 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 3.9%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Yale University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in New Haven, Connecticut, with 6,814 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Yale University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	730	760	780
SAT Math	740	780	790
ACT Composite	33	34	35
ACT English	34	35	36
ACT Math	31	34	35

61% submitted SAT scores and 25% submitted ACT scores, as Yale University reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1534 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Yale University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Required
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Required
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Required
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Considered if submitted
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Considered if submitted
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Considered if submitted
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Considered if submitted
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Not considered
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Yale University's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Yale University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It doesn't award credit for life experience.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $26,044 a year at Yale University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

How selective is Yale University?

Very hard: fewer than 1 in 10 applicants got in, which makes it one of the hardest colleges to get into. Yale University admitted 3.9% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

How much does GPA matter at Yale University?

It's one factor among several: Yale University requires high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, test scores, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider college preparatory program and other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Does Yale University require the SAT or ACT?

No. Yale University is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 61% sent SAT scores and 25% sent ACT scores.

Do I have a chance at Yale University with a 3.5 GPA?

GPA alone can't tell you here. Yale University admitted 3.9% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.

What are Yale University's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Yale University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 730–780 in reading and writing and 740–790 in math; ACT composite 33–35, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

What percent of applicants does Yale University accept?

Yale University's acceptance rate was 3.9% for fall 2024: it admitted 2,227 of 57,517 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

What GPA does Yale University look for?

Yale University doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.

Can you get college credit for AP scores at Yale University?

Yes. Yale University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Does it matter at Yale University if a parent went there?

Yes. Yale University considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

What do students pay at Yale University after grants?

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $26,044 a year at Yale University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Before you apply, check Yale University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

College Navigator: Yale UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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