Yale vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Yale University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Yale based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 15,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Yale vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Yale ($20,522 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 21% lower than at Yale University ($15,714 vs. $19,900).
  • Yale University is 275.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $49,321 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.6% higher at Yale than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $29,809 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (56% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 293.6% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($65,892 vs. $16,742).

Yale vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers and Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 110 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Yale students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Yale vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $52,200 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $8,715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($13,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $90 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($139 vs. $229).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 68%)

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.