AMHERST, MA

MEDFORD, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Tufts - US university comparison

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Amherst, MA

World rank · ARWU#501-600

Acceptance63.5%

Median SAT1456

Graduation rate83.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.49%

Median SAT1510

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 11.49%

1456 Median SAT 1510

83.6% Graduation rate 93.5%

7,042 Enrollment 13,599

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 11.49%

14.4% Yield rate 45.5%

1456 Median SAT 1510

3.93 Avg. GPA -

14,356 Number of applications 34,432

2.2% Int'l students 12.5%

At a glance

Tufts leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance63.5% vs 11.49%

Yield14.4% vs 45.5%

Grad. debt$39,539 vs $25,584

The verdict, from the data

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts most of the applications it receives (63.5%), while Tufts turns away the overwhelming majority (11.5%).

The more international environment is at Tufts (12.5% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

Average aid for an international student is $80,079 (Tufts) and $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

You do not have to choose between price and outcome here: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute costs $67,976 against $73,616, and its graduates earn $102K against $83K (Tufts).

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 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 ($67,976 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, 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 (11.49% vs 63.5% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 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 ($67,976 vs $73,616); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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 rate	63.5%	11.49%
Yield rate	14.4%	45.5%
Median SAT	1456	1510
Avg. GPA	3.93	-
Number of applications	14,356	34,432
International students	2.2%	12.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$83K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$47K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$132K
Graduation rate	83.6%	93.5%
Retention rate	91%	95.5%
Median debt	$23,750	$16,250
Tuition · year	$67,976	$73,616
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$59,574
% of need met	66.2%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$25,584
Application fee	$70	-
Enrollment	7,042	13,599

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 11.49%.

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 $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $73,616 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 1510 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 $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $59,574 at Tufts.

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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.