Tufts vs Dartmouth - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Dartmouth: 6% against 11.5% (Tufts).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Dartmouth starts at $96,098 against $93,182 and ends at $20,797 against $33,608 (Tufts).
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Dartmouth: $97K against $83K.
On SAT scores this is the same calibre of applicant: 1510 and 1520.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Dartmouth is the more selective of the two (6.02% vs 11.49% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #301-400). Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $83K). Dartmouth has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,525 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 Tufts for: a higher world ranking.
Choose Dartmouth 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
Dartmouth is more selective (6.02% vs 11.49% acceptance); Dartmouth has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1510).
Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $83K); Dartmouth has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.5% vs 93.5%).
Dartmouth has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,525 vs $73,616); Dartmouth offers a larger average aid package ($75,301 vs $59,574).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 6.02% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 70.9% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1520 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 28,230 |
| International students | 12.5% | 14.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $97K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $189K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 95.5% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 98% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $71,525 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $75,301 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $24,255 |
| Application fee | - | - |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 7,273 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Dartmouth?
It's harder to get into Dartmouth. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Dartmouth accepts 6.02%.
Do Tufts or Dartmouth graduates earn more?
Dartmouth graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $97K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Dartmouth?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $71,525 per year at Dartmouth.
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Dartmouth?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1520 at Dartmouth; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Dartmouth?
Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #301-400 for Dartmouth.
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Dartmouth?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $75,301 at Dartmouth.
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