MEDFORD, MA

DURHAM, NC

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Duke — US university comparison

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.5%

Median SAT1513

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

DUKE

Durham, NC

World rank · ARWU#39

Acceptance5.7%

Median SAT1548

Graduation rate96.8%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$98K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University Duke University

#151-200 World rank · ARWU #39

#179 Rank · THE #27

11.5% Acceptance rate 5.7%

1513 Median SAT 1548

93.5% Graduation rate 96.8%

13,599 Enrollment 17,499

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 5.7%

45.5% Yield rate 58.8%

1513 Median SAT 1548

— Avg. GPA —

34,432 Number of applications 51,795

17% Int'l students 22%

At a glance

Duke leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance11.5% vs 5.7%

Yield45.5% vs 58.8%

Debt$16,250 vs $13,000

EXPERT TAKE

Duke is the more selective of the two (5.7% vs 11.5% acceptance). Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #39). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $83K). Duke has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,758 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: lower graduate debt.

Choose Duke for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Duke is more selective (5.7% vs 11.5% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1513).

Graduate outcomes

Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $83K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 93.5%).

Cost and aid

Duke has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,758 vs $70,704); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Tufts	Duke
World rank · ARWU	#151-200	#39
Rank · THE	#179	#27
Acceptance rate	11.5%	5.7%
Yield rate	45.5%	58.8%
Median SAT	1513	1548
Avg. GPA	—	—
Number of applications	34,432	51,795
International students	17%	22%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$83K	$98K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$103K	$115K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$132K	$172K
Graduation rate	93.5%	96.8%
Retention rate	95.5%	98%
Median debt	$16,250	$13,000
Tuition · year	$70,704	$68,758
Avg. aid package	$59,574	$72,437
% of need met	100%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$25,584	$27,515
Application fee	—	—
Enrollment	13,599	17,499

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Duke?

It's harder to get into Duke. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Duke accepts 5.7%.

Do Tufts or Duke graduates earn more?

Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $83K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Duke?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $68,758 per year at Duke.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Duke?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1548 at Duke; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or Duke?

Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #39 for Duke.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Duke?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $72,437 at Duke.

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.