MEDFORD, MA

WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Brandeis — US university comparison

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.5%

Median SAT1513

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

BRANDEIS

Waltham, Massachusetts

World rank · ARWU#301-400

Acceptance40.5%

Median SAT1462

Graduation rate86%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$77K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University Brandeis University

#151-200 World rank · ARWU #301-400

#179 Rank · THE —

11.5% Acceptance rate 40.5%

1513 Median SAT 1462

93.5% Graduation rate 86%

13,599 Enrollment 5,205

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 40.5%

45.5% Yield rate 17.5%

1513 Median SAT 1462

— Avg. GPA 3.90

34,432 Number of applications 10,462

17% Int'l students 34%

At a glance

Tufts leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance11.5% vs 40.5%

Yield45.5% vs 17.5%

Debt$16,250 vs $25,648

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 40.5% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #301-400). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $77K). Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,080 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 Tufts for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Brandeis for: lower tuition.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Tufts is more selective (11.5% vs 40.5% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1462).

Graduate outcomes

Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $77K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 86%).

Cost and aid

Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,080 vs $70,704); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $57,507).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Tufts	Brandeis
World rank · ARWU	#151-200	#301-400
Rank · THE	#179	—
Acceptance rate	11.5%	40.5%
Yield rate	45.5%	17.5%
Median SAT	1513	1462
Avg. GPA	—	3.90
Number of applications	34,432	10,462
International students	17%	34%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$83K	$77K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$103K	$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$132K	$117K
Graduation rate	93.5%	86%
Retention rate	95.5%	87%
Median debt	$16,250	$25,648
Tuition · year	$70,704	$68,080
Avg. aid package	$59,574	$57,507
% of need met	100%	94.5%
Avg. graduate debt	$25,584	$27,004
Application fee	—	$80
Enrollment	13,599	5,205

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Brandeis?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.5%.

Do Tufts or Brandeis graduates earn more?

Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $77K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Brandeis?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $68,080 per year at Brandeis.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Brandeis?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1462 at Brandeis; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or Brandeis?

Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #301-400 for Brandeis.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Brandeis?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $57,507 at Brandeis.

Compare Tufts 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.