the sky and Yale’s buildings reflected in a pool of water

Committed to Affordability

Families receiving financial aid do not pay the full cost of attendance. 

Learn more about affordability Quickly Estimate Your Cost

The Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance (COA) refers to the total expenses a student is expected to incur - both billed an unbilled - when attending Yale College. Yale considers the the following expenses when determining the estimated COA for one academic year: 

  • Tuition 
  • Student Activity Fee
  • Housing
  • Food
  • Books/Course Material/Supplies/Equipment
  • Personal Expenses
  • Travel Expenses 

Billed expenses (e.g. tuition, fees, housing, and food) are fixed. Estimated travel expenses will vary based on the student’s home address. Yale creates standardized estimates for all other expected unbilled expenses; actual costs will depend on a student’s spending choices. 

2025-26

Estimated Cost of Attendance for Yale Undergraduate Students

  • $69,900

    Tuition

  • $175

    Student Activity Fee

  • $11,550

    Housing

  • $9,100

    Food

  • $1,000

    Books/Course Material/Supplies/Equipment

  • $2,700

    Personal Expenses

Detail of numbers carved into Maya Lin's Women's Table sculpture

Planning for Four Years

As you plan ahead for costs over four years, keep in mind:

  • Any increases in the cost of attendance for future academic years will be matched with increases in student’s financial aid offer. Yale will continue to 100% of demonstrated financial need. 
  • Every family’s circumstances are reevaluated each year using tax information from two years prior as the base year.
Exterior of Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall featuring a stone carving of Yale's coat of arms and motto

International Students and U.S. Taxes

Financial Aid from Yale may have tax implications for international students as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States.  

Learn more about tax implications

Important Note for Eli Whitney Students

Eli Whitney students are charged on a full-time or half-time basis depending on the number of credits enrolled. The full tuition rate is assessed for students taking 3 or more Yale credits in a semester, while half of the full tuition rate will be assessed to any Eli Whitney student taking between 1 and 2.5 credits in a semester. Students must be enrolled in at least 1.5 credits in a semester to be eligible for financial aid. 

Learn more about the Eli Whitney Students Program