Yale admits 776 early action applicants, matches 66 QuestBridge finalists

Yale College has offered admission to 776 applicants for the Class of 2027 through its early action program, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions announced Dec. 15.

Among the other early action applicants, 21% were deferred for reconsideration in the spring, 67% were denied admission, and 2% were withdrawn or incomplete.

The admitted students were selected from among 7,744 applicants, the second-largest group of early applicants in the college’s history, said Jeremiah Quinlan, dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid.

“The curiosity, ingenuity, and leadership these early action applicants revealed in their applications enormously impressed the members of the admissions committee,” he said. “These future Yalies are poised to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities and resources the university offers and to make meaningful contributions of their own to the vitality of the Yale community.”

Earlier this month, Yale admitted 66 other students through the QuestBridge National College Match program. QuestBridge is a national nonprofit organization that connects high-achieving students from lower-income backgrounds with selective colleges and universities. This year a record 1,755 students matched with one of the program’s 48 partner schools.

The 66 applicants admitted to Yale’s Class of 2027 through the QuestBridge National College Match learned the news Dec. 2. They also all qualify for Yale's most generous financial aid award — a “zero parent share” award. In addition to covering the full cost of tuition, housing, and meals, Yale will provide hospitalization insurance coverage and a $2,000 start-up grant in each student’s first year.

For all admitted students, Yale College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Scott Wallace-Juedes, director of undergraduate financial aid, also shared that new adjustments to Yale’s financial aid methodology will lower net costs for many middle-income families beginning in the 2023-24 academic year.

“The mission of the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid is to make a Yale College education affordable for everyone,” said Wallace-Juedes. “This fall the Provost’s Financial Aid Working Group took a close look at how we assess financial need relative to families’ savings and home equity. I’m very pleased that the group approved changes that amount to $2.5 million in new annual investments that will directly reduce what many middle-income families are expected to contribute from assets.”

Last year the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid announced several other enhancements to Yale College financial aid policies. Those changes reduced costs and increased the amount of a Yale Scholarship — Yale’s need-based grant aid — by $7,500 over four years for most undergraduates receiving financial aid.

All newly admitted students will be invited to attend a three-day immersive experience of life at Yale during Bulldog Days, the admissions office’s signature on-campus program, April 24–26, 2023. The office will also host virtual events and sponsor online communities to help admitted students connect with each other and with the Yale community prior to Bulldog Days.

Last April Bulldog Days took place on campus for the first time since before the pandemic. Quinlan credited the program’s successful return to campus with increasing the “yield rate” for admitted students — the percentage of students offered admission who accept the offer and enroll at Yale — to 70%.

“There is no substitute for visiting campus,” he said. “I’m proud that we make a special investment to ensure that admitted students from lower-income families can attend Bulldog Days through our Yale Travel Program.”

Last year, the program offered travel grants to more than 400 admitted students.

Beginning in January, the admissions office will turn its attention to the much larger group of applicants who opt to apply through the regular decision program. Those students will receive their admissions decisions on March 30.

All admitted first-year applicants will have until May 2 to reply to their offer of admission.