Yale University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Yale does not participate in federal TRIO programs.

Yale has an extraordinarily generous need-based financial aid program that enables students from all backgrounds all over the word to be able to afford a Yale education. Yale College admits students for their academic and personal promise without regard to ability to pay. Families earning less than $65,000 annually do not make any contribution to the cost of an admitted child's education, and families earning between $60,000 and $120,000 typically contribute only 1% to 10% of their income. More than half of all undergraduates receive need-based, and the University provides more than $100 million annually in financial aid for Yale College students. In the 2010–2011 year, 57% of all Yale undergraduates received need-based aid from Yale. In 2010–2011, the average Yale Scholarship was $35,500.

Financial aid staff are trained to be able to communicate with families of all types all over the world.

The Student Financial Services office provides information about its financial aid program over the web and our admissions officers and student ambassadors describe our generous financial aid program when traveling across the country, and the world.

Yale’s scholarships are solely based on need, so the largest amounts of scholarship go to our neediest students; if the family income is under $65,000, then the expected parent contribution is $0.

Yale provides complete information about its financial aid program and the application process on the Univesrity website. We also provide customer service by email, telephone, and in person.

The admissions office specially targets low-income areas when sending out our student ambassadors. Yale has also partnered with Questbridge in order to locate and recruit talented low-income students who might not otherwise find their way to Yale.

An applicant’s academic strength is Yale's first consideration. We review grades, standardized test scores, and evaluations by a counselor and two teachers to determine academic strength. The admissions committee then factors in student qualities such as motivation, curiosity, energy, leadership ability, and distinctive talents.

Yale also provides financial aid for attendance at any one of the University’s graduate and professional schools. The graduate and professional programs are both merit-based, and need-based, and the policies vary at the individual schools based on local funding.

Student Financial Services provides special group orientation meetings for International Students, students attending the Multi-Cultural orientation, and all students who want additional information prior to the beginning of the fall term.