Yale admits students without regard to their ability to pay and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. For all students. Without loans. A Yale education is affordable.
Financial aid for Eli Whitney students
Yale College provides generous financial aid, awarded solely on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Yale meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all Eli Whitney students. Financial aid covers the full cost of attendance: tuition, fees, housing, food, and estimates for books/course materials/supplies/equipment, personal expenses, and travel. Eli Whitney students taking classes at least half-time are eligible for financial aid. Students who qualify for financial aid receive a need-based Yale Scholarship that can vary from a few thousand dollars to over $80,000 per year.
Meeting financial need with scholarships, not loans.
Yale does not use student loans to meet financial need. Instead, Yale financial aid offers include a Yale Scholarship equal to the amount of demonstrated financial need. Eli Whitney students are considered independent for financial aid purposes; their parents are not expected to contribute financially and are not required to provide documentation to complete the financial aid application process. Students who would like to consider using a loan to finance some or all their net costs may contact the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to explore their options.
Part time students
Unlike other Yale undergraduates, Eli Whitney students have the option to take classes full or part time. To accommodate students who study part time, Yale calculates the number of aided terms for which a student is eligible at 150% of a student’s program length at the time of matriculation as indicated on the student’s transfer credit report. For example, a new Eli Whitney student transferring to Yale as the equivalent of a first-term junior would be eligible for financial aid for 6 terms (150% x 4 = 6). A new Eli Whitney student transferring to Yale as the equivalent of a first-term sophomore would be eligible for financial aid for 9 terms (150% x 6 = 9).
Housing
Eli Whitney students live off campus or in graduate housing. For students with demonstrated financial need, financial aid offers include an estimate for housing expenses that is equivalent to the cost of a standard Yale undergraduate room. Although the actual cost of off-campus living or graduate housing may differ from the cost of a Yale College room, there are affordable rental options in New Haven.
U.S. Military Veterans
Veterans of the U.S. armed forces may choose to use their military education solely, or in addition to applying for need-based Yale financial aid. Yale is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program. Review Military Benefits and Financial Aid for more information.
Dependent Childcare Support
Yale College students receiving need-based financial aid and with qualifying childcare expenses will be eligible for dependent child support of up to $4,900 while they are engaged in education-related activities during the academic year, plus an additional $1,000 per additional dependent child under the age of six.
Applying for Financial Aid
Instructions for applying for Eli Whitney Students Program financial aid can be found on the website of the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid. The financial aid application deadline is April 1. Please note: Yale’s Net Price Calculator and MyinTuition are designed for prospective first-year domestic applicants and will not provide an accurate financial aid estimate for independent students.