Stanford vs Yale University

Stanford University and Yale University, two of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United States, offer students a world-class education and a transformative college experience. While they share many similarities, there are also some key differences between the two schools. Stanford, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is known for its strong programs in engineering, computer science, and entrepreneurship, while Yale, situated in the historic city of New Haven, Connecticut, excels in the humanities, social sciences, and law. With acceptance rates of 4.7% and 6.3%, respectively, both universities are highly selective, attracting top students from around the world. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details on acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, helping you make an informed decision about which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Stanford University logo

Stanford University

Yale University logo

Yale University

Overview

Location Stanford, California New Haven, Connecticut
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 98.0% 98.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 3.9% 5.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $90

Graduate: $125
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $105
SAT range 1470 - 1570 1480 - 1580
ACT range 34 - 35 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 15.0% 54.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0% 35.0%
Total number of applicants 55,471 47,240
Total number of admissions given out 2,190 2,509
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,757 1,786
Yield rate 80.2% 71.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $78,898 $82,170
Average net price $14,402 $20,605
Tuition $55,473 $59,950
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,166

Meal plan: $6,694
Room/dormitory: $10,100

Meal plan: $7,700
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

61.0%
Average amount $56,211
58.0%
Average amount $58,715
Students receiving federal student loan 5.0%
Average amount $5,151
5.0%
Average amount $4,879
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $17,186
0.0%
Average amount $5,094

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6%
6,536
Men 48.6% Women 51.4%
Graduate students 10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5%
8,031
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 58.5% 93.6%
International students 24.4% 21.6%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 14,621 5,576
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas Washington New York Illinois California New York Connecticut Texas New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Physical Science
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 5:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 95.5% 96.9%
Dropout rate 1.7% 2.5%
Transferred out 0.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $151,574
  • Year 2: $170,457
  • Year 3: $210,837
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $159,729
  • Year 2: $168,942
  • Year 3: $203,193
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $164,734
  • Year 2: $163,337
  • Year 3: $187,054
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $137,457
  • Year 2: $150,874
  • Year 3: $173,548
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $136,126
  • Year 2: $136,499
  • Year 3: $165,375
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $128,556
  • Year 2: $135,709
  • Year 3: $157,500
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,354
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $139,234
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,326
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $126,185
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,457
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $107,477
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,475
  • Year 2: $85,391
  • Year 3: $104,592
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,998
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $168,803
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,882
  • Year 2: $147,858
  • Year 3: $167,455
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,705
  • Year 2: $132,032
  • Year 3: $165,012
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $132,023
  • Year 2: $132,866
  • Year 3: $142,164
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,929
  • Year 2: $111,017
  • Year 3: $117,291
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,157
  • Year 2: $98,213
  • Year 3: $112,141
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,985
  • Year 2: $95,473
  • Year 3: $95,527
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,166
  • Year 2: $86,621
  • Year 3: $91,001
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,834
  • Year 2: $63,625
  • Year 3: $73,597
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,489
  • Year 2: $58,522
  • Year 3: $72,034

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