For more than 40 years, Yale has welcomed applications from nontraditional students with exceptional backgrounds and aspirations.
The Eli Whitney Students Program (EWSP) is designed specifically for individuals without a bachelor’s degree who have been out of high school for at least five years. Eli Whitney students come from all walks of life: they are military veterans, entrepreneurs, community and social activists, healthcare workers, artists and athletes. Some have devoted themselves to raising families.
Eli Whitney students take the same in-person classes as other undergraduates and have access to the same majors, faculty, extracurricular activities, research opportunities and international experiences. The program’s flexibility allows students to enroll in classes full or part time, and many of its advisors have experience guiding adult students. The Eli Whitney Students Program is fully integrated within Yale College while providing a built-in community of peers with lived experiences that are often very different from those of Yale’s traditional-aged students. Yale’s generous need-based financial aid makes the EWSP affordable for everyone.
Eli Whitney Student Stories
Watch the video below to hear from six Eli Whitney students who share insights on their journeys from working professionals to Yale.
Contact Information
If you are unable to find an answer to your question about the Eli Whitney Students Program elsewhere on our website, please submit your inquiry using our online questions portal to receive a response via email.