Yale University Acceptance Rate
New Haven, Connecticut · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 51,803
- Admitted
- 2,332
- Yield
- 70.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Yale University's acceptance rate has fallen from 6.3% in 2014–15 to 4.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 30,932 to 51,803 (+67%) over that period.
Its 4.5% rate makes Yale University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 23 tracked Connecticut schools, it is more selective than about 96%.
Yale University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 70.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 30,932 | 1,950 | 6.3% | 1,361 |
| 2015–16 | 30,236 | 2,034 | 6.7% | 1,364 |
| 2016–17 | 31,445 | 1,988 | 6.3% | 1,367 |
| 2017–18 | 32,879 | 2,277 | 6.9% | 1,579 |
| 2018–19 | 35,301 | 2,240 | 6.3% | 1,573 |
| 2019–20 | 36,844 | 2,241 | 6.1% | 1,550 |
| 2020–21 | 35,220 | 2,299 | 6.5% | 1,264 |
| 2021–22 | 47,240 | 2,509 | 5.3% | 1,786 |
| 2022–23 | 50,060 | 2,289 | 4.6% | 1,554 |
| 2023–24 | 51,803 | 2,332 | 4.5% | 1,641 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 29,799 | 1,205 | 4% |
| Men | 22,003 | 1,127 | 5.1% |
| Unknown | 1 | 0 | 0% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 740–780 | 56% |
| SAT Math | 760–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 33–35 | 26% |
How Yale University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Yale University's acceptance rate?
Yale University's acceptance rate is 4.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,332 admitted of 51,803 applicants).
Is Yale University test optional?
Yale University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Yale University?
Yale University received 51,803 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,332.
What SAT score do you need for Yale University?
Admitted students at Yale University typically scored 740–780 on SAT Reading/Writing and 760–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Yale University getting harder to get into?
Yale University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 6.3% in 2014–15 to 4.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.yale.edu/.