Private not-for-profit

Medium

Ivy League

Yale University SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT Range1480 to 1560

ACT Range33 to 35

Average GPAN/A

Acceptance Rate3.9%

At Yale, test-optional does not mean scores are irrelevant: 61% of applicants submitted SAT scores, and the middle range starts at 1480. Your clearest testing target is the upper end, around a 1560 SAT or 35 ACT, so your score strengthens an already strong application.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Yale University facts and stats

Quick Facts

Yale University enrolls 6,814 undergraduate students in an urban campus setting. Yale has a 99% freshman retention rate, well above the national average of roughly 70%. Its 6-year graduation rate is 96%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 5:1.

Location

New Haven, CT

Undergrad Enrollment6,814

Freshman Retention99%

SettingUrban

Student to Faculty Ratio5:1

Graduation Rate96%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How do your scores compare at Yale?

SAT score card showing a 1520 score with an unlocked lock

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Key Yale University application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

January 2

Early Action

November 1

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Coming soon

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit scores to test-optional Yale, take your first SAT or ACT by the spring of junior year, then use the summer and fall for retakes or superscoring opportunities. For the November 1 Early Action deadline, an October retake is generally the last fall test date likely to arrive in time.

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What you'll actually pay

Yale is a private not-for-profit, so the same rate applies to all students, with tuition and fees at $67,375. About 54% of students receive aid, and the average merit award is $27,333.

Tuition and Fees$67,375

Room and Board$19,900

Average Merit Award$27,333

Application Fee$80

Students on Aid54%

Average Aid Package$75,093

Average Debt at Grad$7,265

Yale’s listed tuition and fees plus room and board total $87,275. About 54% of students receive aid, with an average aid package of $75,093, which can substantially reduce what families pay. The average merit award is $27,333. Graduates leave with an average debt of $7,265.