What is an FGLI student?
A first-generation (or “first-gen”) student is someone whose parents or legal guardians did not attend college.
A low-income student is someone from a lower socioeconomic background.
Resources for FGLI applicants
Applying to college can be overwhelming and intimidating for anyone. For an applicant who is the first in their family to attend a four-year college, the application process can be especially daunting. Yale offers resources to help first-gen low-income as they explore our community and navigate our admissions process.
QuestBridge
Yale is proud to partner with QuestBridge National College Match. High-achieving, low-income domestic students can apply to be considered for binding early admission and a full four-year scholarship. Learn more about applying to Yale Through QuestBridge.
Fee waivers
Yale does not issue its own fee waivers, but it is easy to apply for free if you meet any of the eligibility criteria for your chosen application platform. Follow these instructions when applying:
Yale accepts fee waivers for all applicants who meet the CommonApp’s fee waiver eligibility criteria. If you quality, simply request a fee waiver when completing the “Profile” section of the CommonApp. For first-year applicants, a student’s counselor will be asked to verify eligibility.
Yale accepts all fee waivers for all applicants who meet the Coalition Application’s fee waiver criteria. If you confirm your fee waiver request and eligibility while reviewing Part 1 of your Coalition Application, you will not be prompted to pay Yale’s application fee when completing Part 2, the Yale Coalition Supplement.
The entire QuestBridge application process is free. Students applying to Yale as QuestBridge National College Match Finalists may share their QuestBridge application with no fee. Students who are not named QuestBridge Finalists may apply using the Common Application or Coalition Application and should follow the above instructions for requesting a fee waiver.
First-Generation at Yale: The Community
First Generation at Yale: Taking the Leap
Affordable Yale: The Rojas Family
Meeting financial need, without loans.
At Yale, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to achieving your academic dreams.
That’s why we award every dollar of undergraduate financial aid on the basis of a family’s demonstrated financial need, and our aid offers meet 100% of demonstrated need without requiring loans.
Families with incomes below $200,000 do not pay tuition, and families with incomes below $100,000 have no costs.
Need-blind admission, need-based aid
Yale operates a need-blind admissions policy for all applicants, from anywhere in the world: we evaluate applicants without regard to their ability to pay and meet their full demonstrated need with scholarships, not loans.
Support for FGLI students
Yale’s faculty and staff know that FGLI students bring hard work, resilience, and unique lived experiences that help them excel in college. FGLI students can also face unique challenges in navigating the expectations and resources.
Academic resources
The Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning houses the Office of Educational Opportunity, which runs a popular FGLI peer mentorship program and a STEM Navigators program that serves hundreds of first years and sophomores. Through FGLI Thrive workshops, one-on-one and group tutoring programs, and writing support, students have access to all the resources they need to succeed in and out of the classroom.
Student life resources
All undergraduates are members of a residential college, a smaller, tight-knit communities where undergraduates live, eat meals, and interact with classmates from all walks of life. The moment first-years arrive on campus on move-in day, they are also greeted by FroCos (First-Year Counselors) who serve as peer advisors throughout the year.
Cultural and resource centers serve as gathering places for building community. They house student organizations and host meetings, plays, art exhibits, and parties. Peer Liaisons are upper-level students affiliated with with these communities who support first-year students through their transition to Yale.