At $27,818/yr net price, Yale University graduates earn $100,533/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $66,533/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $27,818 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $111,272 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $100,533/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$66,533/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 96.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $12,975 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $28,132/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,744/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,900/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,004/yr |
| $110,001+ | $49,347/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $147,858 | $59,278 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $132,866 | $66,900 |
| Law. | Doctoral | $132,032 | $140,977 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $122,038 | $15,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $111,017 | $138,003 |
| Public Health. | Doctoral | $100,414 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $98,213 | $118,849 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $95,473 | |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $86,621 | $12,562 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Master | $74,576 |
The Risk Factor
96.3% of students at Yale University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Yale gives you one of the safest financial bets in higher education. You graduate with about $13,000 in median debt against six-figure median earnings ten years out, and 96% of you finish. That debt figure is low for a private school, and the 99% retention rate means almost nobody leaves after year one.
The major you pick changes your outcome sharply. Computer science pays more than double what political science does a decade after graduation, and economics lands in a strong middle. If you come to Yale for international relations or political science, expect earnings closer to $50,000 early on. That doesn't make those degrees a mistake here, but the low debt matters more if you go that route, since your salary won't cover much borrowing quickly. Yale's proximity to Boston and New York finance and tech hubs helps the higher-earning tracks.
The net price tiers reward middle-income families most. If your family earns $75,000 to $110,000, you pay less than $18,000 a year, and the $48,000 to $75,000 band pays a similar rate. The oddity is the lowest tier: families under $30,000 pay slightly more on average than families earning up to $110,000, so run your own numbers with financial aid before assuming the bottom bracket is cheapest. Families over $110,000 pay near the full sticker of roughly $49,000.
Yale fits you if you can access the middle-income aid brackets or plan to enter a high-paying field like computing or economics. If your family earns over $110,000 and you plan to major in a lower-earning field like political science, weigh the full price carefully against cheaper options with similar career results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yale University worth the cost?
Yale graduates earn $100,533 annually ten years after graduation with relatively low debt of $12,975, making the investment worthwhile for most students. The school's generous financial aid brings the average net price down to $27,818 per year, significantly below the sticker price.
What are the highest paying majors at Yale University?
Business administration graduates from Yale earn the highest salaries at $147,858 annually, followed by nursing at $132,866 and law at $132,032. Even lower-paying programs like computer science still produce graduates earning $122,038 per year.
How much debt do Yale University graduates have?
Yale graduates have a median debt of just $12,975, well below the national average. The low debt load combined with strong earning potential makes Yale one of the better financial investments among elite universities.
Does Yale University provide good financial aid?
Yale's financial aid reduces the average cost to $27,818 per year despite a much higher sticker price. The school meets full demonstrated need, though admission remains extremely competitive with only a 4.57% acceptance rate.