Yale vs. UChicago vs. Princeton

Compare Yale University, University of Chicago, and Princeton University side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Yale University
University of Chicago
Princeton University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • UChicago Large City
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • UChicago 18,566
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • UChicago #6
  • Princeton #1
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • UChicago -
  • Princeton -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • UChicago Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • UChicago
  • Princeton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • UChicago $20,109
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • UChicago $28,060
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • UChicago $62,300
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • UChicago 47%
  • Princeton 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • UChicago 43,612
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • UChicago 1,955
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • UChicago 1550
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • UChicago 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • UChicago 3.95
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • UChicago A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • UChicago Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • UChicago Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • UChicago 34/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • UChicago 1510/1580
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • UChicago Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • UChicago
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • UChicago 5:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • UChicago 92%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • UChicago $98,500
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • UChicago 86%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • UChicago $14,500
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • UChicago $149
  • Princeton $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • UChicago 54%
  • Princeton 52%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • UChicago 46%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • UChicago High
  • Princeton Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • UChicago No
  • Princeton No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • UChicago 45%
  • Princeton 45%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • UChicago 17%
  • Princeton 22%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • UChicago 5%
  • Princeton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • UChicago 8%
  • Princeton 9%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • UChicago 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • UChicago 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • UChicago 3%
  • Princeton 4%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • UChicago 11%
  • Princeton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • UChicago 10%
  • Princeton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • UChicago 8%
  • Princeton 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • UChicago 68%
  • Princeton 74%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with University of Chicago in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Chicago is larger than Yale based on total student enrollment (18,566 students vs. 15,564 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Yale vs. UChicago Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or UChicago? 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 UChicago ($22,408 vs. $28,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 1% lower than at University of Chicago ($19,900 vs. $20,109).
  • University of Chicago is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $3,412 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at UChicago than at Yale University (about $3,412 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at University of Chicago (56% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 5.8% larger than aid received by University of Chicago students ($65,892 vs. $62,300).

Yale vs. UChicago Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale or UChicago? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UChicago and Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Chicago (1550) is 30 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at UChicago (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Yale University 1470/1570; University of Chicago 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Yale University 33/35; University of Chicago 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; UChicago - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Yale students have the same average high school GPA (3.95) as students at UChicago (3.95).
  • UChicago has a higher acceptance rate (4.5%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 88.3% at UChicago.

Yale vs. UChicago Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale and UChicago? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Chicago's (92%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $19,900 more per year than UChicago graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $98,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than UChicago graduates ($13,500 vs. $14,500).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UChicago graduates ($139 vs. $149).
  • More UChicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 84%)

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.