Rochester vs Tufts - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Tufts admits 11.5% of applicants, while Rochester admits 40.1%.
The more international environment is at Rochester (22.1% international students) than Tufts (12.5%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Tufts awards international students $80,079 on average, Rochester awards $41,269.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Tufts: a midpoint of 1510 against 1470, a difference of 40 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 40.08% acceptance). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $79K). Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,284 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 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
Tufts is more selective (11.49% vs 40.08% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1470).
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%).
Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,284 vs $73,616); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $59,574).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rochester | Tufts |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #151-200 |
| Rank · THE | #127 | #179 |
| Acceptance rate | 40.08% | 11.49% |
| Yield rate | 15.4% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.72 | - |
| Number of applications | 21,384 | 34,432 |
| International students | 22.1% | 12.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $79K | $83K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $47K |
| 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 | $70,284 | $73,616 |
| 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 40.08% of applicants, while Tufts accepts 11.49%.
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 $70,284 per year at Rochester and $73,616 per year at Tufts.
What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Tufts?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Rochester and 1510 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.
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