When Yates returned from his mission, he and Lydia went to Cornell University. They lived in Ithaca, New York and he worked in a blacksmith shop. He took classes from Robert H. Thurston and Harris J. Ryan. Yates graduated in June 1902 with degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering. Afterwards, the family moved back to Utah and got jobs at different power companies. Lydia died in 1903; the couple had two daughters together. On February 24, 1904, Yates married to Lily Fairbanks. They had five daughters and three sons together.