Yale University vs Vanderbilt
Yale University and Vanderbilt University, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Yale, an Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, boasts a lower acceptance rate (6.3%) compared to Vanderbilt's 10.3%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Yale including Economics, Political Science, and History, while Vanderbilt students commonly pursue Engineering, Economics, and Human & Organizational Development. Yale's student body is slightly smaller, with an undergraduate enrollment of around 6,000 compared to Vanderbilt's 7,000. Additionally, Yale has a higher graduation rate (97%) than Vanderbilt (93%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences between these two esteemed universities and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Vanderbilt University |
![]() Yale University |
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Overview |
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Location | Nashville, Tennessee | New Haven, Connecticut |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 7.1% | 5.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
|
SAT range | 1480 - 1570 | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | 54.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 32.0% | 35.0% |
Total number of applicants | 47,152 | 47,240 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,368 | 2,509 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,626 | 1,786 |
Yield rate | 48.3% | 71.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $79,538 | $82,170 |
Average net price | $27,553 | $20,605 |
Tuition | $54,840 | $59,950 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
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Room/dormitory:
$10,100
Meal plan:
$7,700
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
58.0%
Average amount $58,715 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
5.0%
Average amount $4,879 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
0.0%
Average amount $5,094 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
6,536
Men 48.6% Women 51.4% |
Graduate students |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
8,031
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 89.5% | 93.6% |
International students | 11.7% | 21.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,598 | 5,576 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas | California New York Connecticut Texas New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 93.4% | 96.9% |
Dropout rate | 6.4% | 2.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
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