Yale's Acceptance Results for the Class of 2029
Arkesh P.
Chief Operating Officer
Summary
Yale has completed the admissions cycle for the Class of 2029 as of Ivy Day, March 27, 2025. Out of 50,228 applicants to the Class of 2029, Yale has admitted 2,308 students, resulting in a 4.6% acceptance rate, a full percentage point higher than last year's 3.7% acceptance rate.
Below is a detailed breakdown with insights to help prospective applicants better understand Yale's evolving admissions landscape.
Class of 2029 Overview
| Admission Round | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA) | 6,754 | 728 | 10.8% |
| Regular Decision (RD) | 43,474 | 1,580 | 3.63% |
| Overall | 50,228 | 2,308 | 4.6% |
Key Trends and Insights
- The acceptance rates, while still hovering near all-time lows, increased this year compared to last year's all-time historical lows, reflecting a slightly less narrow path to admission.
- Total applications declined this year, down 12.6% to 50,228, compared to 57,465 last year, with the total number of SCEA applications down 14% from last year.
Broader Admissions Trends:
- Consistently Competitive Admissions Landscape: Yale's overall acceptance rates have remained below 5% for the past three years, providing applicants only the narrowest opportunities to stand out and gain admission.
- Pandemic-Era Spike in Applications: Applications surged 34% during the pandemic years, starting with the Class of 2025, influenced by test-optional policies. The application numbers have remained elevated since then, peaking (so far) at 57,465, last year.
- SCEA Advantage: Yale offers early-round applicants a significant statistical advantage, with acceptance rates that are more than double the overall acceptance rates and triple the RD acceptance rates.
- Fluctuations Influenced by External Factors: Acceptance rates and application totals can vary due to external influences such as policy changes, global events (e.g., COVID-19), or targeted recruitment efforts. Beginning this admissions cycle, for example, Yale eliminated its pandemic-era test-optional policy, which almost certainly accounts for some of the drop in overall application numbers this year.
Yale remains highly competitive in an era of historically low acceptance rates. Applicants should seek to demonstrate exceptional achievements in learning, service, and leadership while showcasing their genuine interest for attending Yale.
Yale's Regular Decision Acceptance Results
Regular Decision Results: Class of 2029 vs 2028
| Admission Round | Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications Received | 43,474 | 49,609 | -12.4% |
| Applications Accepted | 1,580 | 1,365 | +15.8% |
| RD Acceptance Rate | 3.63% | 2.75% | +32% |
The RD acceptance rate increased to 3.63%, compared to 2.75% last year.
In tandem with Yale's reinstated testing policy, RD applications dropped by about 12% compared to last year, down to 43,474 from 49,609.
Yale's Early Action Acceptance Results
Early Action Results: Class of 2029 vs 2028
| Admission Round | Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications Received | 6,754 | 7,856 | -`14.0% |
| Applications Accepted | 728 | 709 | +2.6% |
| SCEA Acceptance Rate | 10.8% | 9.0% | +12.0% |
Yale's SCEA acceptance rate is 10.8% this year, a notable increase from last year's 9%.
This year, the number of applicants decreased by a significant 14%, down to 6,754 from 7,856 last year.
This year's SCEA acceptance rate is roughly on par with Yale's early admission stats for the past four years, hovering between 9 and 11%. Prior to Yale adopting a test-optional admissions policy in 2020 in response to the pandemic, the SCEA acceptance rate hovered between 13 and 17%.
- Higher Acceptance Rates: Early Decision applicants typically enjoy higher acceptance rates compared to Regular Decision.
- Demonstrated Interest: Applying early shows Yale your strong interest in joining their academic community.
Historical Trends
The table below gives prospective applicants a 10-year snapshot of Yale's admissions trends.
Historical Acceptance Rates at Yale
| Class of | Total Applications | Total Accepted | Total Acceptance Rate | RD Acceptance Rate | EA Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 50,228 | 2,308 | 4.6% | 3.63% | 10.8% |
| 2028 | 57,465 | 2,146 | 3.7% | 2.75% | 9% |
| 2027 | 52,303 | 2,354 | 4.5% | 3.54% | 10% |
| 2026 | 50,060 | 2,289 | 4.6% | 3.48% | 11% |
| 2025 | 47,420 | 2,509 | 5.3% | 4.23% | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 35,220 | 2,299 | 6.5% | 5.1% | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 36,844 | 2,241 | 6.1% | 4.69% | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 35,307 | 2,241 | 6.3% | 4.73% | 14.7% |
| 2021 | 32,914 | 2,288 | 7% | 5.09% | 17.1% |
| 2020 | 31,455 | 1,988 | 6.3% | 4.45% | 17.1% |
| 2019 | 30,236 | 2,034 | 6.7% | 5.02% | 16% |
These historical data demonstrate Yale’s increasing selectivity. As the overall acceptance rate rebounds from a historic low below 4% last year, that may be good news for prospective applicants going forward.
- Academic Excellence: Maintaining top grades and a high GPA are crucial to get into Yale.
- Strong Essays: Present well-crafted essays to showcase your unique voice and story.
- Leadership and Extracurriculars: Demonstrate meaningful engagement outside the classroom.
- Test Scores: If submitting, aim for high SAT or ACT scores within or above Yale's reported range.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations to the students admitted to the Yale's Class of 2029 — your achievement reflects remarkable dedication and excellence.
For students aspiring to get into Yale, strategic preparation guided by a personally-tailored roadmap is essential. Be sure to check out our full guide on how to get into Yale!
Crimson Education specializes in helping ambitious students navigate this challenging process, offering them informed guidance so they can build compelling applications that reflect their authentic strengths and passions.
If you're a student or parent interested in Yale or other top universities, speak with one of Crimson Education’s admissions advisors today and start charting your path to success.
