Financial Aid
YDS covers 100% tuition for all students with need
Fundraising success and endowment performance now make it possible to meet the full tuition need of all aided students.

Tuition and Fees

2025–2026 Cost of Attendance

The standard single-student budget below is used in calculating eligibility for financial aid, including grants and loans. The budget assumes a modest lifestyle for a single student in New Haven during the academic year. All costs other than tuition are estimates provided for budgeting; students’ actual costs may differ. Estimated costs for a single semester would be half the amounts listed in the table below.

YDS Estimated Cost of Attendance, 2025–2026
Tuition $30,576
Hospitalization Insurance $3,422
Living Expenses   
      Housing* $8,326
      Food $4,864
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,200
Transportation $1,664
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses $5,832
Total $55,884

*This estimate is for single-student on-campus housing; see estimates under “Housing and Food” below for other housing types.

Tuition

The tuition charge is split between fall and spring semesters, i.e., $15,288 per semester for enrollment in at least 9 credits. Tuition for the fall semester is billed to the Student Account by July 1 with payment due by July 31. Tuition for the spring semester is billed to the Student Account by November 1 with payment due by November 30. The Student Accounts Office assesses monthly late fees for overdue bills; visit the Student Accounts website for more information. 

The Estimated Cost of Attendance above applies to degree students enrolled in 9 or more credits each semester. Degree students who enroll in fewer than 9 credits have a part-time tuition rate of $15,288 ($7,644 per semester) in 2025–2026 and have an estimated cost of $600 for Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment. The other 2025–2026 Estimated Cost of Attendance figures are the same for all students regardless of enrollment level.

Additional information about tuition is published in the Divinity School Bulletin each year.

Hospitalization Insurance

The Hospitalization Insurance estimate equals the cost of Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care coverage for a single student. Yale Health also offers rates for two-person and family plans. More information is available under “Student Coverage” on the Yale Health website.

All Yale students enrolled at least half time in a degree-seeking program are required to have hospitalization insurance. All such students are automatically enrolled in and billed for Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care coverage. Charges post to the Student Account and are due on the same schedule as tuition; visit the Student Accounts website for more information.

If you have comparable health insurance from another source, you may waive the Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care coverage and charges by completing a waiver form on the Yale Health website.

Housing and Food

The housing estimate uses the weighted average of costs for different housing options on the YDS campus; the food estimate uses a regional average for monthly food costs for one person. Individual students’ costs may be higher or lower depending on their choices for where to live and what to eat.

Students living off campus and those living in Yale-owned housing that accommodates dependents generally have higher estimated housing costs than students living in on-campus single-student housing. The estimates below are provided as a guide; your actual costs may differ.

Estimated Housing Costs, 2025–2026
On campus (student with dependents) $16,515
Off campus $13,590

Students with dependents or special circumstances may request an increase in their individual Cost of Attendance budget for actual documented housing costs. Such an increase provides additional eligibility for federal student loans, Federal Work-Study, and outside grant aid; it does not increase a student’s YDS scholarship. Please contact the YDS Financial Aid Office if you would like to increase your Cost of Attendance budget based on your housing or if you have questions about the cost estimates.

Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment

The estimate for books, course materials, supplies, and equipment is based on enrollment in four courses per semester. Actual costs vary by course and by where you choose to purchase. Listings in Yale Course Search provide information about the books and other materials used in each course.

Students may request an increase in their individual Cost of Attendance budget for the actual documented cost of purchasing or renting a personal computer. An increase for a computer purchase is allowed only once during a student’s YDS program and may not exceed $2,500. A computer-allowance increase provides additional eligibility for federal student loans, Federal Work-Study, and outside grant aid; it does not increase a student’s YDS scholarship. Please contact the YDS Financial Aid Office if you would like to increase your Cost of Attendance budget for a personal computer purchase or rental.

Transportation

The estimate for transportation includes local travel and occasional regional travel outside the Greater New Haven area.

Miscellaneous Personal Expenses

Miscellaneous personal expenses include items such as personal care products, cell phone service, apparel, household supplies, and entertainment.

Childcare Expenses

Students may request an increase in their individual Cost of Attendance budget for certain documented childcare expenses. Such an increase provides additional eligibility for federal student loans, Federal Work-Study, and outside grant aid; it does not increase a student’s YDS scholarship. Please contact the YDS Financial Aid Office to find out about increasing your Cost of Attendance budget based on childcare expenses.

Other Financial Considerations

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

The official Cost of Attendance used for federal aid purposes covers expenses for a single student only. Students with a spouse and/or dependent(s) should budget for additional family expenses not included in the Cost of Attendance.

Please note that eligibility for U.S. federal aid, including loans, is generally limited to the estimate for an individual student’s educational program and living costs. Federal aid funds are not intended to cover the living expenses of other family members. A student’s eligibility for federal aid cannot be increased based on family expenses, with the exception of childcare and housing for dependents living with the student.

International Students

U.S. Taxes

International students should be aware that scholarships from Yale Divinity School may have U.S. tax implications as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States. For more information, please see our webpage International Students and U.S. Taxes.

Documentation of Financial Resources

International students must provide documentation of financial resources to meet their financial needs during their stay in the United States. This evidence is required for Yale to process documents needed for student visa applications.

  • Students coming to the U.S. alone must provide documentation showing financial resources at least equal to the YDS Estimated Cost of Attendance minus their Yale Divinity School scholarship award.
     
  • Students bringing a spouse and/or dependents with them to the U.S. are required to provide evidence of funds to cover their own costs as well as the estimated cost of their family members’ living expenses while in the United States. Documentation must show financial resources at least equal to the YDS Estimated Cost of Attendance minus the Yale Divinity School scholarship award, plus the appropriate amount(s) from the table below.
     
    The estimated costs for family members in the table below do not include the cost of family medical insurance. However, please be aware that family members accompanying a student to the U.S. are required to have health insurance coverage. Students should plan for that cost in addition to the finances documented for visa purposes.
Additional Financial Resources to
Be Documented for Family Members
(2025–2026)
Family Member(s) Financial Resources
Spouse only  $9,250
1 dependent/child only  $11,600
Spouse + 1 dependent/child $20,000
Additional dependent/child  $4,750

Please note that estimated costs for family members’ living expenses usually increase each year.

Contact

Office of Financial Aid

(203) 432-5026
(203) 432-7475
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