Yale vs. Vanderbilt

Deciding between Yale University and Vanderbilt 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
Vanderbilt University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Vanderbilt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Vanderbilt 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Vanderbilt $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Vanderbilt High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Vanderbilt 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Vanderbilt 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Yale University is larger than Vanderbilt based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 13,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanderbilt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Vanderbilt University 8:1.

Yale vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt ($22,408 vs. $25,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 9.8% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($19,900 vs. $22,054).
  • Vanderbilt University is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $248 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Vanderbilt than at Yale University (about $248 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanderbilt University than at Yale University (67% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Vanderbilt University students ($65,892 vs. $64,404).

Yale vs. Vanderbilt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vanderbilt University (1540) is 20 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Vanderbilt (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Vanderbilt University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Vanderbilt University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Vanderbilt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Vanderbilt (3.89).
  • Vanderbilt has a higher acceptance rate (5.9%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

Yale vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale and Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $35,300 more per year than Vanderbilt graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Vanderbilt graduates ($13,500 vs. $14,000).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vanderbilt graduates ($139 vs. $144).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanderbilt students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 83%)

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.