ROCHESTER, NY

MEDFORD, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rochester vs Tufts — US university comparison

ROCHESTER

Rochester, NY

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance40.1%

Median SAT1488

Graduation rate85.4%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.5%

Median SAT1513

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Rochester Tufts University

#151-200 World rank · ARWU #151-200

#127 Rank · THE #179

40.1% Acceptance rate 11.5%

1488 Median SAT 1513

85.4% Graduation rate 93.5%

11,946 Enrollment 13,599

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.1% Acceptance rate 11.5%

15.4% Yield rate 45.5%

1488 Median SAT 1513

3.70 Avg. GPA —

21,384 Number of applications 34,432

37% Int'l students 17%

At a glance

Tufts leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance40.1% vs 11.5%

Yield15.4% vs 45.5%

Debt$21,000 vs $16,250

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 40.1% acceptance). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $79K). Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,080 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 Rochester for: lower tuition, a larger aid package.

Choose Tufts for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, 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 40.1% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1488).

Graduate outcomes

Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $79K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 85.4%).

Cost and aid

Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,080 vs $70,704); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rochester	Tufts
World rank · ARWU	#151-200	#151-200
Rank · THE	#127	#179
Acceptance rate	40.1%	11.5%
Yield rate	15.4%	45.5%
Median SAT	1488	1513
Avg. GPA	3.70	—
Number of applications	21,384	34,432
International students	37%	17%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$79K	$83K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$74K	$103K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$117K	$132K
Graduation rate	85.4%	93.5%
Retention rate	90.7%	95.5%
Median debt	$21,000	$16,250
Tuition · year	$67,080	$70,704
Avg. aid package	$60,879	$59,574
% of need met	96.1%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$32,304	$25,584
Application fee	$50	—
Enrollment	11,946	13,599

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rochester or Tufts?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Rochester accepts 40.1% of applicants, while Tufts accepts 11.5%.

Do Rochester or Tufts graduates earn more?

Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $79K.

How much is tuition at Rochester vs Tufts?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,080 per year at Rochester and $70,704 per year at Tufts.

What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Tufts?

The median admitted SAT score is 1488 at Rochester and 1513 at Tufts; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rochester or Tufts?

The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $59,574 at Tufts.

Compare Rochester 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.