Tufts vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Tufts admits 11.5% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4%.
Average aid for an international student is $80,079 (Tufts) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
On paper the cheaper option is Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $38,400 against $73,616, which is $35,216 less a year.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Tufts: a midpoint of 1510 against 1470, a difference of 40 points.
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
Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.49% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #55). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($83K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 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: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Tufts is more selective (11.49% vs 42.37% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1470).
Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $81K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 85.1%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $73,616); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $23,217).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #55 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | #46 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 42.37% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 73,742 |
| International students | 12.5% | 14.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $55K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 85.1% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 94.8% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $19,500 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $38,400 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $23,217 |
| % of need met | 100% | 0.8% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $22,395 |
| Application fee | - | $50 |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 59,238 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.
Do Tufts or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $83K at Tufts and $81K at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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