Carnegie Mellon vs Tufts - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The more international environment is at Carnegie Mellon (23.3% international students) than Tufts (12.5%).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Tufts reports aid for international students ($80,079 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
You do not have to choose between price and outcome here: Carnegie Mellon costs $68,776 against $73,616, and its graduates earn $115K against $83K (Tufts).
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 1540 against 1510, a gap of 30 points.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.49% vs 11.66% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #151-200). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $83K). Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $73,616 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 Carnegie Mellon for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Tufts for: higher selectivity, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Tufts is more selective (11.49% vs 11.66% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1510).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $83K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 93.5%).
Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $73,616); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $59,574).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Tufts |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #151-200 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | #179 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 11.49% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | - |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 34,432 |
| International students | 23.3% | 12.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $83K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $47K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $132K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 93.5% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 95.5% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $16,250 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $73,616 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $59,574 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $25,584 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 13,599 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Tufts?
It's harder to get into Tufts. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Tufts accepts 11.49%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Tufts graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Tufts?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $73,616 per year at Tufts.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Tufts?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1510 at Tufts; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Tufts?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #151-200 for Tufts.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Tufts?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $59,574 at Tufts.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern