Admissions Rounds and Financial Assistance for Visiting College Students
Yale Summer Session is dedicated to making Yale College's storied liberal arts curriculum accessible to visiting students as well as Yale College students. To that end, YSS is updating its admissions process and financial assistance policies for visiting students in 2026. Visiting students will be admitted in three application rounds. Financial assistance will also be available to eligible visiting college students who demonstrate financial need.
Admissions Rounds
Beginning this year, Yale Summer Session will admit visiting students in three rounds—Priority, Regular, and Rolling. In addition to providing students with more clarity, this change will allow YSS to calculate course enrollments more precisely and offer the widest variety of courses. Applying in the Priority Round is required for visiting college students seeking a YSS Scholarship.
In the Rolling Round, deadlines differ for students taking only online courses versus those taking at least one on-campus course. These admission rounds apply only to visiting students and do not affect Yale College students.
Admission Rounds & Deadlines
| Round | Deadline | Decisions Released |
|---|---|---|
| Priority (Session A & B) | February 20 | March 6 |
| Regular (Session A & B) | March 13 | March 27 |
| Session A Rolling: At least one in-person course | April 3 | Within ten business days |
| Session A Rolling: Online only | May 1 | Within ten business days |
| Session B Rolling: At least one in-person course | May 8 | Within ten business days |
| Session B Rolling: Online only | June 5 | Within ten business days |
Financial Assistance for Visiting College Students
For 2026, Yale Summer Session will offer financial assistance to some visiting college students. Full information is available at our Financial Assistance page.
Visiting College Students with Demonstrated Financial Need
In 2026, visiting college students with a Student Aid Index of $20,000 or below on the 2025-26 FAFSA will be eligible for a YSS Scholarship. YSS Scholarships are up to $2000 per course for up to two courses per student in 2026. The number of scholarships and award amounts will vary.
To be eligible for a YSS Scholarship, visiting college students must apply during the Priority Round of YSS admissions, by February 20. The YSS Scholarship will be awarded in March.
Yale Child Scholarship Program Recipients
In 2026, visiting college students admitted to YSS who received funding through the Yale Child Scholarship Program and need-based scholarship aid from their home institution in 2025-26 are eligible for the same YSS Financial Assistance as Yale College students receive: 50% off of course tuition for up to a maximum of two courses.
We're so happy to be able to expand access to Yale Summer Session in this way. Again, please check our Financial Assistance page for full details.