Yale University vs Trinity College: which has better ROI?
Yale University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,108 in 1.8 years versus 3.3 years at Trinity College, on median earnings of $100,533 vs $90,779 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Yale University | Trinity College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,777 | $34,832 |
| Total net cost | $95,108 | $139,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $100,533 | $90,779 |
| Median debt | $12,975 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $948,352 | $709,052 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Yale University or Trinity College?
Yale University, at $23,777 a year after aid versus $34,832 — a gap of $11,055 a year, or $44,220 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Yale University or Trinity College graduates earn more?
Yale University graduates report a median $100,533 ten years after entry, $9,754 more than the $90,779 at Trinity College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Yale University or Trinity College?
Yale University: its completers carry a median $12,975 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Trinity College, a difference of $10,025. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Yale University, against 84% at Trinity College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.