WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

MEDFORD, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Brandeis vs Tufts — US university comparison

BRANDEIS

Waltham, Massachusetts

World rank · ARWU#301-400

Acceptance40.5%

Median SAT1462

Graduation rate86%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$77K

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.5%

Median SAT1513

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Brandeis University Tufts University

#301-400 World rank · ARWU #151-200

— Rank · THE #179

40.5% Acceptance rate 11.5%

1462 Median SAT 1513

86% Graduation rate 93.5%

5,205 Enrollment 13,599

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.5% Acceptance rate 11.5%

17.5% Yield rate 45.5%

1462 Median SAT 1513

3.90 Avg. GPA —

10,462 Number of applications 34,432

34% Int'l students 17%

At a glance

Tufts leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance40.5% vs 11.5%

Yield17.5% vs 45.5%

Debt$25,648 vs $16,250

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 40.5% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #151-200). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $77K). Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,080 vs $70,704 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical — the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Brandeis for: lower tuition.

Choose Tufts for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Tufts is more selective (11.5% vs 40.5% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1462).

Graduate outcomes

Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $77K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 86%).

Cost and aid

Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,080 vs $70,704); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $57,507).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Brandeis and Tufts highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Brandeis	Tufts
World rank · ARWU	#301-400	#151-200
Rank · THE	—	#179
Acceptance rate	40.5%	11.5%
Yield rate	17.5%	45.5%
Median SAT	1462	1513
Avg. GPA	3.90	—
Number of applications	10,462	34,432
International students	34%	17%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$77K	$83K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$69K	$103K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$117K	$132K
Graduation rate	86%	93.5%
Retention rate	87%	95.5%
Median debt	$25,648	$16,250
Tuition · year	$68,080	$70,704
Avg. aid package	$57,507	$59,574
% of need met	94.5%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$27,004	$25,584
Application fee	$80	—
Enrollment	5,205	13,599

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Brandeis or Tufts?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Brandeis accepts 40.5% of applicants, while Tufts accepts 11.5%.

Do Brandeis or Tufts graduates earn more?

Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $77K.

How much is tuition at Brandeis vs Tufts?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,080 per year at Brandeis and $70,704 per year at Tufts.

What SAT score do you need for Brandeis or Tufts?

The median admitted SAT score is 1462 at Brandeis and 1513 at Tufts; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Brandeis or Tufts?

Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Brandeis vs #151-200 for Tufts.

Which university offers more financial aid — Brandeis or Tufts?

The average aid package is $57,507 at Brandeis and $59,574 at Tufts.

Compare Brandeis with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts institute of technology

Washington university

Northwestern

Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).

All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.