Opening doors and making space: ‘Yale was a possibility for me’

During Peter Salovey's time as president, Yale has significantly invested in efforts to ensure financial accessibility for all students, aiming to eliminate any barriers to enrollment. This series explores Yale's commitment to creating inclusive opportunities. Jan 10, 2024 8 min read

By Andrea Thompson, Peed Kiana Flores, a Yale junior, shares her experience with the university's support system.

Kiana Flores, a Yale junior, leads tours for prospective families. Growing up in New Haven, Flores initially didn’t consider Yale as a destination. However, during her high school years, she joined New Haven REACH, a program that paired her with Yale students who offered guidance on the college admissions process. These mentors encouraged her to consider Yale because of its focus on political science and climate change, as well as its generous financial aid policies, which she later described as a key factor in her decision to attend. Now a Political Science major with a concentration in Climate Change, Flores balances her academic rigor with a strong social life, ensuring she has a well-rounded Yale experience. This story is the first in a series about Yale’s transformation under President Peter Salovey, who is set to return to the faculty later this year.

She balanced an academic schedule with two campus jobs and an active political career, recently elected as New Haven’s Ward 1 alder. These experiences have profoundly shaped her perspective on her role at Yale University, local politics, and her future aspirations, she said, after earning a political science degree. When choosing a college, she prioritized minimizing debt and securing financial aid, reflecting her decision to attend Yale for its commitment to affordability, regardless of a student’s economic background. As Yale’s president, Peter Salovey has been dedicated to admitting and educating the most promising students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, preparing them to become impactful leaders. This vision has been realized through extensive efforts to make Yale accessible to all students, supported by significant investments in financial aid and resources.

Yale College has taken steps to broaden its student body by increasing access to education, with significant progress over the past decade. In 2017, the introduction of Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin Colleges contributed to a 19% rise in undergraduate enrollment, reaching over 6,500 students. This growth, combined with a robust financial aid program, has expanded outreach efforts to emphasize affordability and accessibility. A comprehensive admissions process, which evaluates candidates broadly, has also played a role in these changes. As a result, the percentage of Pell Grant-eligible first-year students in the 2027 class is 30% higher than a decade ago. Additionally, the number of first-generation students in the freshman year has increased by 115%, while the proportion of students of color has grown by 96%. Pell Grants provide financial assistance to students with exceptional financial need, with awards typically covering tuition and fees without loans, and no parental contribution required.

Yale University provides comprehensive financial support through awards that cover tuition, housing, meal plans, travel, hospital insurance, and a $2,000 startup grant, along with scholarships. As one of a few American universities, Yale ensures equitable financial aid for all undergraduates, regardless of their status or citizenship. Approximately two-thirds of Yale students receive financial assistance, with over 85% graduating debt-free. Under Yale’s admissions and financial aid dean, Jeremiah Quinlan, the number of Pell-eligible first-year students has doubled over the past decade, largely due to the addition of two residential colleges. This achievement underscores the university’s commitment to affordability and accessibility. Pell-eligible first-years have also seen an increase in both undergraduate and graduate programs, with tuition discounts, stipends, and scholarships reducing costs for nearly all students in Yale’s arts and sciences graduate school. Additionally, the generosity of Yale’s donors has ensured financial support in its professional schools.

The David Geffen School of Drama, the School of Music, the Institute of Sacred Music, and the Yale Divinity School offer tuition-free education to students who demonstrate financial need. Other Yale schools have also expanded their financial aid offerings. For instance, the Yale School of Medicine has significantly reduced the expected debt for its graduates, while Yale Law School introduced the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program, which provides tuition-free opportunities for students with substantial financial need—75 students were awarded this year alone. The Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program is modeled after Yale College’s financial aid program, offering a novel approach to funding legal education. Yale Law School Dean Heather K. Gerken emphasized the school’s long-standing commitment to expanding access to legal education, eliminating barriers based on financial need. In addition to tuition support, Yale has been dedicated to providing comprehensive assistance to students beyond their admissions process. This includes a wide range of services such as academic resources, enrichment programs, clothing grants, and summer opportunities, ensuring that students from all backgrounds can thrive and achieve their goals.

Stipends and resources are designed to help students focus on their academic success. Recently, Yale College and the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning established the Office of Educational Opportunity, which works to promote educational equity and ensures that all undergraduates have access to Yale’s academic, advising, and co-curricular opportunities. In 2019, Fernando Rojas ’19, ’23 J.D., and his family shared their story in a video produced by Yale’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For Rojas, seeing the resources grow since his matriculation in 2015 through his law school studies was especially rewarding. Rojas, whose parents immigrated to Southern California from Mexico, majored in history at Yale and excelled academically, earning the Hart Lyman prize and a Beinecke scholarship as an undergraduate, and a Gates Cambridge Scholarship as a senior. The ability to fully utilize his time as a student grew from the community and resources he found on campus, which now include First-Year Scholars, a summer experience for incoming students, and the FGLI Community Initiative. “Over my time at Yale, first-generation, low-income student support became much more institutionalized,” Rojas said. “And that’s critical because getting into the school is hard enough; making sure that you have the tools you need to succeed is equally important.”

Yale alumni have historically demonstrated that they achieve similar levels of economic success after graduation, regardless of their initial socioeconomic status, as noted by Quinlan, the undergraduate admissions dean. Additionally, they attain higher education degrees at comparable rates. As the world becomes increasingly fragmented in opportunities for socioeconomic mobility, Yale’s commitment to maintaining this accessibility through merit-based financial aid is seen as a vital reason for its ongoing efforts to expand diversity within the student body. Rojas, now a lawyer in Los Angeles, recently took his parents on their first overseas trip, which prompted him to reflect on his own journey. He recalled how his decision to pursue Yale was shaped during a critical high school moment when he realized Yale’s accessibility, combined with financial aid, made his dream of attending the university attainable. The realization of financial aid’s role in making this goal feasible was a pivotal moment that alleviated his apprehensions and anxiety, transforming his aspiration into a tangible reality.

Karen Peart, a Yale alumna, has been named the media contact for the university, with her contact information and phone number provided. Yale has recognized three graduates for their contributions to New Haven and beyond through the YAA Public Service Awards. These honorees were acknowledged on September 18, 2026. Additionally, the university highlighted the progress made on a geothermal energy project at Science Hill, which recently achieved a significant milestone. A podcast titled *Clean Energy Under Science Hill* will soon be available, featuring insights from those involved in the project. The university also announced that the *Beyond Blue* podcast will soon be released. Yale Facilities has released a podcast episode titled *Coming Soon: Beyond Blue*, which listeners can listen to. In related news, the university is set to publish a new collection of essays in its *Humanitas* magazine. Yale’s *For Humanity* campaign has successfully raised funds, positioning the university to expand access to resources and opportunities and advance research. A special edition of *Humanitas* will include a podcast celebrating 100 years of the David Geffen School of Drama, along with personal reflections and insights from Yale students. The magazine will also feature recommendations for summer reading, including new faculty books. Meanwhile, an article examining a long-standing issue in pricing theory will be published, offering fresh perspectives. This marks the 100th anniversary of the university’s commitment to exploring blind spots in economic theory. The article will delve into recent discoveries and implications for academic research.

News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.