Yale vs. Barnard

Deciding between Yale University and Barnard College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Yale University
Barnard College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Yale Yes
  • Barnard Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Yale Yes
  • Barnard No
  • Meal Plan
  • Yale Yes
  • Barnard Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Yale No
  • Barnard No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Yale Yes
  • Barnard No

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Yale vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or Barnard? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Yale University than Barnard ($22,408 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 8.4% lower than at Barnard College ($19,900 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $2,638 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Barnard than at Yale University (about $2,638 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Barnard College (56% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($65,892 vs. $63,131).

Yale vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale or Barnard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Barnard and Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is the same as at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Yale students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Yale vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale and Barnard? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $51,500 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $4,347 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($13,500 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($139 vs. $184).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.