Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
Tufts University
MEDFORD, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Tufts — US university comparison

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Amherst, MA
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance63.5%
Median SAT1456
Graduation rate83.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K
Tufts University
TUFTS
Medford, MA
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance11.5%
Median SAT1513
Graduation rate93.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Tufts University
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #151-200
— Rank · THE #179
63.5% Acceptance rate 11.5%
1456 Median SAT 1513
83.6% Graduation rate 93.5%
6,761 Enrollment 13,599

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 11.5%
39.7% Yield rate 45.5%
1456 Median SAT 1513
— Avg. GPA —
15,819 Number of applications 34,432
19% Int'l students 17%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $83K
$86K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $103K
$137K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $132K
83.6% Graduation rate 93.5%
98% Retention rate 95.5%
$23,750 Median debt $16,250
$64,081 Tuition · year $70,704
$76,097 Avg. aid package $59,574
100% % of need met 100%
$29,149 Avg. graduate debt $25,584
$75 Application fee —
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Tufts leads in 6 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance63.5% vs 11.5%
Debt$23,750 vs $16,250
Aid$76,097 vs $59,574

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 63.5% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #151-200). Rensselaer polytechnic institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K). Rensselaer polytechnic institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,081 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 Rensselaer polytechnic institute for: higher graduate earnings, higher retention, lower tuition.

Choose Tufts for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Tufts is more selective (11.5% vs 63.5% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer polytechnic institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer polytechnic institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,081 vs $70,704); Rensselaer polytechnic institute offers a larger average aid package ($76,097 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kRensselaer polytechnic instituteTufts TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Rensselaer polytechnic institute and Tufts highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rensselaer polytechnic institute Tufts
World rank · ARWU#501-600#151-200
Rank · THE—#179
Acceptance rate63.5%11.5%
Yield rate39.7%45.5%
Median SAT14561513
Avg. GPA——
Number of applications15,81934,432
International students19%17%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$83K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$86K$103K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$137K$132K
Graduation rate83.6%93.5%
Retention rate98%95.5%
Median debt$23,750$16,250
Tuition · year$64,081$70,704
Avg. aid package$76,097$59,574
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$29,149$25,584
Application fee$75—
Enrollment6,76113,599

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Tufts?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Rensselaer polytechnic institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Tufts accepts 11.5%.

Do Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Tufts graduates earn more?

Rensselaer polytechnic institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $83K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Tufts?

Sticker-price tuition is $64,081 per year at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $70,704 per year at Tufts.

What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Tufts?

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and 1513 at Tufts; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Tufts?

Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs #151-200 for Tufts.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Tufts?

The average aid package is $76,097 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $59,574 at Tufts.

Compare Rensselaer polytechnic institute with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins 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.