Yale University

The Connecticut legislature chartered the Collegiate School, initially based in Saybrook. Ministers contributed books from their personal libraries for an early curriculum in theology, rhetoric and classical literature.⁠[2][3]

Trustees voted to move the school to New Haven. In 1718, it was renamed Yale College in recognition of donor Elihu Yale, whose role was distinct from that of the founding ministers.⁠[2][3]

Yale established its medical school in 1813 and divinity school in 1822; its law school dates its founding to 1824. These professional institutions contributed to Yale’s development into a university.⁠[2]

The Yale University Art Gallery opened following John Trumbull’s donation of paintings, including works depicting the American Revolution. Its holdings subsequently expanded across periods and regions.⁠[2]

The Department of Philosophy and the Arts, predecessor of the Graduate School, began offering seminars across science, mathematics and languages. In 1861, Yale became the first U.S. university to award Ph.D. degrees.⁠[2]

Yung Wing received a B.A., becoming the first Chinese man to earn a degree from an American university.⁠[2]

The School of the Fine Arts opened as Yale’s first school to admit women. In 1876, Edward A. Bouchet earned a physics doctorate, becoming the first African American to receive a U.S. Ph.D.⁠[2]

The institution adopted the name Yale University as graduate and professional education expanded, while Yale College continued as the undergraduate institution. Music followed in 1894 and forestry in 1900; the latter became the School of the Environment.⁠[3][2]

The first seven residential colleges opened, combining student life with educational communities. The system reached 12 colleges by 1963 and 14 after Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin colleges opened in 2017.⁠[2][1]

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library opened to house rare books and manuscripts. Gordon Bunshaft’s design features translucent marble panels and an interior book tower.⁠[2]

Yale College first admitted women, a century after women entered the fine arts school. Architecture became a school in 1972, and the School of Management opened in 1976.⁠[2]

Yale acquired a 136-acre West Campus about seven miles from downtown New Haven, adding laboratory, office and other facilities.⁠[2]

A $150 million gift from David Geffen supported tuition-free study at the drama school, renamed the David Geffen School of Drama. In 2022, the Jackson Institute became the Jackson School of Global Affairs.⁠[2]

Yale released research and a book from its slavery history project and apologized for early leaders’ participation in slavery. The research identified more than 200 enslaved people connected with founders, leaders and donors, including people who helped build Connecticut Hall. Yale stated that no known records showed the university itself owned enslaved people. Its response included educational partnerships, community development and historical interpretation.⁠[4]

Art historian Maurie McInnis became Yale’s twenty-fourth president after leading Stony Brook University. The presidential office continued to identify her as president in October 2026, describing initiatives in student support, interdisciplinary research and New Haven partnerships.⁠[5]

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, the endowment returned 11.1% net of fees, generating $4.5 billion in gains. After $2.1 billion in operating distributions, it was valued at $44.1 billion. Yale said the endowment supplied more than one-third of operating revenue; its total value is distinct from annual operating resources.⁠[6]

For new Yale College students entering in 2026–27, families with typical assets and annual incomes below $100,000 would have all expected costs eliminated. Families with typical assets and incomes below $200,000 would receive need-based scholarships at least equal to tuition. The announcement’s eligibility depends on assets and the incoming cohort.⁠[7]

According to Yale’s October 12 recap, students, faculty, staff and families gathered on Cross Campus for the 325th anniversary, with remarks by McInnis. A same-day Beinecke exhibition of early documents, including the 1701 charter, attracted more than 500 visitors.⁠[8]

The facts page, generally reporting 2025 data, listed 15,657 students: 6,667 undergraduates and 8,990 graduate students, including 3,824 international students. It recorded 5,842 faculty across 15 schools. Research and innovation spending exceeded $1.52 billion in fiscal 2024, a different reporting period. Collections held about 15.9 million volumes, and university galleries and museums offered free admission.⁠[1]

Yale University: Official website: https://www.yale.edu/ (opens in a new window).⁠[9]

Yale X: Official website: https://twitter.com/yale (opens in a new window).⁠[8]

Yale LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: Official website: https://www.linkedin.com/school/yale-university/ (opens in a new window).⁠[8]

Yale YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: Official website: https://www.youtube.com/yale (opens in a new window).⁠[8]