Yale University's Acceptance Results for the Class of 2028

As Ivy League schools send out their coveted admissions offers to Regular Decision applicants, Yale University remains one of the most competitive universities in the US. This year only 2,146 students are getting offers to join Yale's Class of 2028, out of an astounding 57,465 total applications. The resulting 3.7% overall acceptance rate marks Yale's lowest ever. The Early Action acceptance rate also dropped, to 9% from 10%, as did the Regular Decision acceptance rate, dropping to 2.75% from 3.5% a year ago.

Yale’s Acceptance Results for the Class of 2028

Yale University has announced a record-low acceptance rate for first-year students admitted to the Class of 2028. The acceptance rate decrease marks a five-year trend, sinking to 3.7% (down 0.65% from last year), the lowest in the school's history and a strong affirmation of the increasing competition for admissions at the nation's top colleges and universities.

1,365 Regular Decision (RD) applicants received offers this year, out of 49,609 RD applicants, a decrease of 13.5% in the number of RD applicants admitted, compared to just one year ago, further evidence of how selective Yale's admissions process has become.

The RD round admits will join the 709 students who won admission in the Early Action round.

Overall, 57,465 hopeful young scholars applied to join as first-year admits to Yale in the Fall of 2024 (a robust increase of 10% compared to last year).

These overall figures comprise the 7,856 EA round applicants (up 1.4% from last year), in addition to the 49,609 RD applicants (an astonishing 11.3% increase from a year ago).

The EA round acceptance rate of 9% is an all-time low, but seems highly favorable in comparison to the overall acceptance rate of 3.7% (4.5% last year), and the dismal 2.75% RD round acceptance rate (down from 3.54% last year).

How does this year's shrinking overall acceptance rate fit into the larger admissions landscape at Yale University viewed over the past several years?

Last year's overall acceptance rate of 4.5% (Yale's Class of 2027) was a negligible drop from the prior year's 4.6% (Yale's Class of 2026). However, over the past ten years, the acceptance rate has trended downward steadily, often dropping a full half percent from one year to the next.

Over five years the overall acceptance rate has dropped from just above 6% on average to this year's all-time record low of 3.7%. Between 2013 and 2019, Yale's overall acceptance rate hovered in the 6-to-7% range but the statistic abruptly dropped to 5.3% for the Fall of 2021 (Class of 2025), the same year Yale instituted test-optional admissions. This drop was followed by a second notable decline in the subsequent year, down to 4.6% (Class of 2026).

No Race-based Preferences for the Class of 2028

In late June of 2023, the Supreme Court struck down race-based admissions policies, making the Class of 2028 race-blind in terms of admissions evaluations. For this reason, Yale officials announced they will need to complete all admissions steps before aggregating and releasing racial data about the Class of 2028.

Intensified Recruitment & Outreach

In response to the the landmark Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, Yale officials ramped up outreach and recruitment efforts in an effort Yale described as one intended to identify "exceptionally promising students of all backgrounds from across the nation and around the world." Decoupled from application reviews, the new hires in Yale's admissions office were free to focus on recruitment work, "even during the busy application reading season" said Moira Poe, Yale's Senior Associate Director of Strategic Priorities for admissions.

The outreach efforts, aimed, at least in part, according to Yale officials, at helping "students from underrepresented and historically excluded communities" chart a path to Yale, may have been another factor contributing to the this year's glut of applicants.

The Fast-Approaching End of Test-Optional Admissions

For those aspiring to apply to Yale in the coming years, it's also worth taking note of the shifting standardized testing landscape. Yale is reinstating testing requirements, adopting a 'test flexible' approach that goes into effect for the Class of 2029. Joining Yale's move away from test-optional admissions are other top schools — Dartmouth, Brown, and UT Austin — all three also reinstating SAT/ACT testing requirements for applicants beginning with the Class of 2029.

Will Yale's shift back to standardized testing reverse the dominant admissions trend?

Will the number of overall applicants decrease and acceptance rates increase?

It's reasonable to assume the end of test-optional admissions will impact Yale's admission statistics. Afterall, the year Yale adopted a test-optional admissions policy (for the Class of 2025), in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, applicant numbers jumped dramatically across both EA and RD rounds, rocketing up nearly 35% overall.

While some of this steep rise can be attributed to deferred admissions from COVID-related isolation, it seems certain the test-optional policy also had a sizeable impact.

As it reinstates testing requirements, albeit more flexible ones, Yale will likely experience some level of decrease in the number of applicants, perhaps boosting the overall acceptance rate, beginning with next year's in-coming class.

Overall statistics for Yale's Class of 2028 are marked by a historically low acceptance rate amid multifaceted change forces impacting the larger admissions landscape. All in all, however, this year's admissions numbers showcase the university's enduring commitment to selecting a diverse, talented, and dynamic cohort of first-year students.

Class of 2028 Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The Regular Decision (RD) acceptance rate plummeted to 2.75% (from last year's 3.54%), the first drop below 3%.

RD applicants numbered 49,609, or 86.3% of the 57,465 total applicants for the Class of 2028, amounting to a steep 11.3% increase in the number of RD applicants compared to last year's figures.

Overall, RD applicants made up slightly more than 63.6% of all admitted students, a noteworthy 13.5% decline in RD admits when compared with last year's numbers.

As the table shows, Yale has experienced a steep increase in RD applicants over five years, rising from 29,000 for the Class of 2024 to nearly 50,000 this year. A closer look, however, reveals much larger jumps in RD numbers for the Class of '25 and '28, but more incremental increases in other intervals, a reminder that admissions dynamics can be hard to predict from one year to the next.

Class of 2028 Early Action Acceptance Rate

Yale reported making admissions offers to 709 applicants who applied under the school's Early Action (EA) round. This figure represents a drop of 8.6% in the percentage of EA applicants who received offers, compared to last year.

The number of students applying under EA this year increased by 1.4% compared to last year, totaling 7,856 and yielding an EA acceptance rate of 9%.

In all, EA applications made up 13.7% of the total first-year applications Yale received for the Class of 2028.

Your Potential EA Advantage

While the EA acceptance rate statistic of 9% points to a very competitive admissions dynamic, even in the EA round, it's clearly an advantageous rate compared to the RD rate of 2.75%, and the overall rate of 3.7%.

In light of this kind of statistical advantage, our Admissions Advisors typically recommend students targeting Yale consider applying early, assuming the accelerated timeline doesn't prevent you from submitting a strong and thoroughly prepared application.

• Demonstrated Interest: As an EA applicant you're better positioned to demonstrate your strong interest in attending Yale in particular, so it's important to also highlight this alignment in your application materials as well.
• Statistical Advantage: In terms of numbers, applying early also puts you in a smaller applicant pool, offering you a straightforward numerical advantage.

Over the past five years students applying early to Yale have had favorable acceptance rates overall, and rates with smaller fluctuations from year to year. With this kind of steady advantage and acceptance rates that are appreciably higher than the painfully low rates for RD applicants, these data further attest to the potential benefits of applying EA if Yale is a top choice on your target list!

Yale Admissions Statistics & Key Trends

Yale University's acceptance rate accents just how daunting the admissions process can be at Ivy League schools. Let's take a look at some of the important trends and what they mean for prospective applicants.

Key Trends

• Increased Competition Amid Shifting Admissions Policy: Over the past five years, Yale has seen a staggering increase in overall applicants, with the biggest jump coming right after the pandemic and in the wake of Yale's decision to adopt a test-optional admissions policy. With Yale having recently announced its decision to reinstate a test-flexible test score requirement for admissions next year, it remains to be seen if students applying for Yale's Class of 2029 will see a significant decrease in the overall number of students who choose to apply in light of the new testing mandate.
• Shrinking Acceptance Rates & An EA Advantage: Over the past decade the overall acceptance rate at Yale diminished by by about 40%, dropping from around 6% to 3.7%, with the RD admissions rate also dropping by almost 50% from five years ago, down to 2.75% this year. The shrinking acceptance rates are likely to make more applicants feel increased pressure to apply in the EA round.
• Increased Recruitment Efforts: Both in response to the prohibition on race-based preferences and in announcing the reinstated testing mandate for admissions, Yale officials highlighted the institution's commitment to pursuing both inclusion and excellence when selecting students for admission.
• Holistic Admissions: Yale has a holistic admissions process, which means that the university considers a range of factors beyond just academic achievement. The admissions committee takes into account a student's extracurricular activities, leadership experience, essays, and recommendations, among other factors. This approach allows the university to evaluate applicants based on their individual strengths and accomplishments, rather than just their academic performance.

These trends align with the broader landscape of college admissions at top universities and colleges today. Yale's reputation for excellence, it's high regard for pursuing student cohorts that are inclusive and high-achieving, and the clear advantage you might get by applying early, set some clear guideposts for those seeking to discern their chances for admissions to this world-class institution.

What Kind of Student Gets into Yale?

It's clear that Yale has a high bar for admission, so students applying to the school will typically need to present a remarkable record of rigorous academic achievements and a profile with outstanding extracurriculars.

According to Jeremiah Quinlan, Yale's Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, “The diverse range of strengths, ambitions, and lived experiences in this year’s applicant pool was inspiring."

Yale's incoming students are also geographically very diverse, with students hailing from all 50 states and 62 different countries.

How Crimson Can Help You Stand Out

Yale's acceptance rates are lower now than ever, highlighting how challenging it has become to gain entry into top universities. In this highly competitive landscape, seeking guidance from experienced college admissions advisors can offer a significant advantage.

Advisors offer personalized support informed by experience and insight, taking chance and guesswork out of the application process and helping you:

• Craft a Compelling Narrative: They work with you to identify your unique strengths, passions, and experiences. This helps shape a cohesive application that showcases your potential to contribute to the Yale community.
• Navigate Strategic Choices: Advisors can provide insights on application timing (early vs. regular), test score submission, and highlight areas where you can further boost your profile.
• Excel in Every Aspect: From essay coaching to interview preparation, advisors ensure each application component is polished and demonstrates your preparedness for Yale's exceptionally rich academic and research environment.

Proven Success in a Competitive Landscape

Crimson Education has a track record of helping students achieve their admissions goals. This year alone, over 200 Crimson students were accepted to top US universities in the early round. Here's a breakdown of our early-round numbers:

• 87 offers to the Ivy League.
• 163 offers to the US Top 20, including offers to Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Rice, Vanderbilt, and University of Notre Dame.
• 15% of Ivy League and 27% of top 20 early round applicants received offers to their dream schools.
• 670+ offers to the US Top 50, including offers to NYU, University of Michigan, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, University of Virginia, and Washington University in St. Louis.
• 1000+ offers to each student’s first choice school.