MEDFORD, MA

CAMBRIDGE, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Harvard — US university comparison

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.5%

Median SAT1513

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

HARVARD

Cambridge, MA

World rank · ARWU#1

Acceptance3.6%

Median SAT1553

Graduation rate97.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University Harvard University

#151-200 World rank · ARWU #1

#179 Rank · THE #3

11.5% Acceptance rate 3.6%

1513 Median SAT 1553

93.5% Graduation rate 97.6%

13,599 Enrollment 21,189

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 3.6%

45.5% Yield rate 83.6%

1513 Median SAT 1553

— Avg. GPA 4.20

34,432 Number of applications 54,008

17% Int'l students 25%

At a glance

Harvard leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance11.5% vs 3.6%

Yield45.5% vs 83.6%

Aid$59,574 vs $74,387

EXPERT TAKE

Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.6% vs 11.5% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #1). Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($61,676 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 Harvard 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

Harvard is more selective (3.6% vs 11.5% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1513).

Graduate outcomes

Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 93.5%).

Cost and aid

Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($61,676 vs $70,704); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Tufts	Harvard
World rank · ARWU	#151-200	#1
Rank · THE	#179	#3
Acceptance rate	11.5%	3.6%
Yield rate	45.5%	83.6%
Median SAT	1513	1553
Avg. GPA	—	4.20
Number of applications	34,432	54,008
International students	17%	25%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$83K	$102K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$103K	$139K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$132K	$200K
Graduation rate	93.5%	97.6%
Retention rate	95.5%	98%
Median debt	$16,250	$14,000
Tuition · year	$70,704	$61,676
Avg. aid package	$59,574	$74,387
% of need met	100%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$25,584	$22,262
Application fee	—	$85
Enrollment	13,599	21,189

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Harvard?

It's harder to get into Harvard. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.6%.

Do Tufts or Harvard graduates earn more?

Harvard graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $83K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Harvard?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $61,676 per year at Harvard.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Harvard?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or Harvard?

Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #1 for Harvard.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Harvard?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $74,387 at Harvard.

Compare Tufts with

Stanford

Massachusetts institute of technology

Washington university

Northwestern

North carolina

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.