Yale University was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School in Saybrook, Connecticut, by a group of Congregational ministers, making it the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine colonial colleges. It was renamed Yale College in 1718 in honor of Elihu Yale, a British merchant who donated books and goods to support the school. The institution moved to New Haven in 1716, expanded into a university in the late 19th century (awarding the first PhD in the U.S. in 1861), and grew through the 20th century with major contributions to research, liberal arts, and professional education, while becoming a cornerstone of the Ivy League and producing influential leaders, scholars, and innovators.
Yale's main campus is located in New Haven, Connecticut, spanning about 1,015 acres across a historic urban setting that blends Gothic Revival architecture, Georgian brick buildings, and modern facilities. Iconic landmarks include the Old Campus (with its freshman dorms), Harkness Tower, Sterling Memorial Library (a cathedral-like structure), Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library (with its translucent marble walls), and the Yale Art Gallery. The residential college system features 14 colleges (expanded from the original 12), each with its own courtyard, dining hall, and community spaces, creating a close-knit yet interconnected environment surrounded by New Haven's cultural institutions, theaters, and green spaces.
Yale University is a private Ivy League research university governed by the Yale Corporation, a self-perpetuating board of trustees consisting of alumni and other leaders responsible for overall policy and finances. The current president is Maurie McInnis (the 24th president, who took office in recent years), serving as the chief executive. The administration includes a provost and deans for its 15 constituent schools, supported by one of the world's largest endowments (valued at approximately $44.1 billion as of mid-2025, the second-largest among U.S. universities), which funds generous financial aid, research, and operations.
Yale is organized into Yale College (undergraduate liberal arts) and 14 professional/graduate schools, including highly ranked programs in Law, Management, Medicine, Art, Drama, Divinity, and more, plus the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. It emphasizes a rigorous, interdisciplinary education with small seminars, tutorials, and extensive research opportunities, consistently ranking among the world's top universities (often in the global top 5–20 across major rankings like QS, Times Higher Education, and U.S. News for 2025–2026). Yale is affiliated with numerous Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, and leaders in humanities, sciences, law, business, and public policy, boasting one of the largest academic libraries in the U.S. (over 15 million volumes) and strong commitments to innovation and societal impact.
Yale enrolls around 15,000 students (about 6,000 undergraduates and 9,000 graduate/professional), fostering a diverse, intellectually intense, and collaborative community with students from all 50 states and over 100 countries. Life centers on the residential college system, where students live, eat, and socialize in one of 14 colleges for all four years, building strong traditions like formal hall dinners, college events, intramural sports, and "master's teas" with notable guests. With over 800 student organizations, world-class performing arts (Yale Repertory Theatre, Yale School of Drama productions), NCAA Division I athletics (Yale Bulldogs in the Ivy League), and New Haven's vibrant music, food, and cultural scene, the atmosphere balances demanding academics with activism, creativity, social engagement, and generous need-based financial aid (meeting 100% of demonstrated need without loans for many families).
Professors at Yale University
0 listed