Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
26% gap between the two groups
5% gap between the two groups
16% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $17,633 |
| $30k–$48k | $15,626 |
| $48k–$75k | $17,943 |
| $75k–$110k | $12,558 |
| $110k+ | $45,951 |
How Yale University compares
This college against the Connecticut and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of Yale University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at Yale University
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Associate's | $271,466 | $15,000 | +4,171% | Strong return |
| Law | Master's | $221,083 | $140,977 | +1,680% | Strong return |
| Economics | Associate's | $131,171 | $12,562 | +1,553% | Strong return |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | Associate's | $130,467 | $15,000 | +1,512% | Strong return |
| Political Science and Government | Associate's | $123,834 | $14,749 | +1,389% | Strong return |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Certificate | $213,202 | $59,278 | +1,341% | Strong return |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate | $127,969 | — | +772% | Strong return |
| Medicine | Master's | $105,217 | $62,778 | +755% | Strong return |
| Area Studies | Associate's | $81,531 | — | +668% | Strong return |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Certificate | $128,563 | $118,849 | +504% | Strong return |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | $129,385 | $138,003 | +480% | Strong return |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Certificate | $95,750 | $41,000 | +361% | Strong return |
| Architecture | Certificate | $87,905 | — | +351% | Strong return |
| Public Health | Certificate | $94,970 | $62,532 | +324% | Strong return |
| English Language and Literature, General | Associate's | $62,925 | — | +277% | Strong return |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | Certificate | $88,262 | $66,000 | +263% | Strong return |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | Certificate | $70,739 | $39,785 | +135% | Strong return |
| Religious Music and Worship | Certificate | $51,142 | — | -35% | Poor return |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Certificate | $44,472 | — | -106% | Poor return |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Certificate | $31,040 | $36,700 | -229% | Poor return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at Yale University
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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