Central Florida vs Yale - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Yale: 4.7% against 44.7% (Central Florida).
The more international environment is at Yale (10.6% international students) than Central Florida (3.3%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Yale awards international students $84,185 on average, Central Florida awards $928.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Yale starts at $98,900 against $42,038 and ends at $24,547 against $30,224 (Central Florida).
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Yale is the more selective of the two (4.7% vs 44.71% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #11). Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $72,500 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Central Florida for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Yale for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Yale is more selective (4.7% vs 44.71% acceptance); Yale has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1260).
Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $58K); Yale has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.7% vs 78%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $72,500); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($74,353 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Central Florida | Yale |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #11 |
| Rank · THE | - | #10 |
| Acceptance rate | 44.71% | 4.7% |
| Yield rate | 33.5% | 68.4% |
| Median SAT | 1260 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.16 | - |
| Number of applications | 55,135 | 50,264 |
| International students | 3.3% | 10.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $101K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $66K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $194K |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 95.7% |
| Retention rate | 92.3% | 99.4% |
| Median debt | $18,190 | $12,975 |
| Tuition · year | $24,076 | $72,500 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,814 | $74,353 |
| % of need met | 65% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,529 | $22,185 |
| Application fee | $30 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 69,338 | 15,657 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Yale?
It's harder to get into Yale. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Yale accepts 4.7%.
Do Central Florida or Yale graduates earn more?
Yale graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $101K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Yale?
Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $72,500 per year at Yale.
What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Yale?
The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1540 at Yale; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Yale?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #11 for Yale.
Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Yale?
The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $74,353 at Yale.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina