Yale vs. Stanford

Deciding between Yale University and Stanford University? 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Yale based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 15,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Yale vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($22,408 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 6.6% lower than at Stanford University ($19,900 vs. $21,315).
  • Yale University is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $1,340 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at Yale than at Stanford University (about $1,340 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Yale University (61% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 5% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($65,892 vs. $62,755).

Yale vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Yale (3.95).
  • Yale has a higher acceptance rate (3.9%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Yale vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale and Stanford? 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 Stanford University's (96%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Yale graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $118,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $1,025 lower median loan debt than Yale graduates ($12,475 vs. $13,500).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Yale graduates ($128 vs. $139).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.