Yale College admits 2,178 students; third year of expanded class size

The Yale Class of 2023 — chosen from among more than 36,000 applications — represents all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 63 countries.
Yale admissions officers pose with welcome packets prepared for Decision Day.

Admissions officers pose with welcome packets prepared for the new Yale Class of 2023.

Yale’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions has completed its review of the 36,843 applications for the Class of 2023 and has offered admissions to 2,178 students. This marks the third year with a larger first-year class after the opening of Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin colleges; like the Classes of 2021 and 2022, the Class of 2023 will be approximately 15% larger than previous recent classes.

Jeremiah Quinlan, dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid, reported that the size and diversity of Yale’s applicant pool allowed the Admissions Committee to admit a larger class for the third year in a row without any significant changes to the holistic selection process. “All of our admissions officers continue to be impressed with and humbled by the number of highly qualified applicants in our pool,” Quinlan said. “We’re thrilled that the expansion of Yale College has allowed us to offer admission to more high-achieving students from such a variety of backgrounds.”

Students admitted to the Yale College Class of 2023 represent all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 63 countries, and will graduate from more than 1,400 secondary schools around the world. They expressed interest in majoring in more than 75 of Yale’s academic programs. Over the past several years, the proportion of applicants, admitted students, and incoming first-years who identify as a member of a minority group and/or first in their family to attend college has steadily increased, and this year is no exception.

Yale admits undergraduates without regard to their ability to pay and extends need-based financial aid to all admitted students who qualify. Scott Wallace-Juedes, director of undergraduate financial aid said, “My colleagues and I look forward to working with the admitted students to the Class of 2023 to ensure that cost of attendance is not a barrier for any admitted student when considering Yale.” He noted that the current group of first-year students includes more students receiving federal Pell Grants than any in Yale’s history. The number of first-year students with these grants is 98% higher than it was five years ago, and these students are 20% of the Class of 2022. Yale’s financial aid awards meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without requiring students or their families to take out loans. More than half of current undergraduates receive a need-based Yale scholarship, with an average annual grant amount of over $53,000. More than 86% of the Yale College Class of 2018 graduated debt-free.

The Class of 2023 will benefit from some recent updates to Yale’s financial aid policies. For several years Yale has not required parents earning less than $65,000 annually — with typical assets — to make any contribution toward the cost of a child’s education. All students who qualify for one of these financial aid awards now receive a $2,000 “startup grant” in their first year and $600 supplements in subsequent years. These students also receive free hospitalization insurance coverage ($2,450 annually) and an additional reduction in Student Effort, beyond reductions announced in 2015 that set the summer income contribution for these students 35% lower than for others receiving financial aid. The Class of 2023 will also benefit from the Domestic Summer Award, a new summer fellowship to support undergraduate students receiving financial aid while pursuing unpaid internships and other learning experiences with non-profit organizations, NGOs, government agencies, and practicing artists.

Admitted students will have the opportunity to learn more and get to know Yale’s campus at one of two yield programs in April: Bulldog Days, a three-day program April 15-17, and Bulldog Saturday, a one-day program on April 20. “Our office relies on the help of the entire Yale community to run both admitted student programs in April,” said Hannah Mendlowitz, director of recruitment. “We are thrilled with the support we have received from all corners of campus to help with both events and show our admitted students and their families all that Yale has to offer.” Both programs include hundreds of events planned by current Yale students as well as master classes, panels, and an academic fair led by dozens of Yale faculty and staff.

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