Tufts University
MEDFORD, MA
University of Kansas
LAWRENCE, KS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Kansas — US university comparison

Tufts University
TUFTS
Medford, MA
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance11.5%
Median SAT1513
Graduation rate93.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K
University of Kansas
KANSAS
Lawrence, KS
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance93.5%
Median SAT1190
Graduation rate68.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University University of Kansas
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#179 Rank · THE —
11.5% Acceptance rate 93.5%
1513 Median SAT 1190
93.5% Graduation rate 68.8%
13,599 Enrollment 29,792

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 93.5%
45.5% Yield rate 25.5%
1513 Median SAT 1190
— Avg. GPA 3.70
34,432 Number of applications 22,363
17% Int'l students 7%
$83K Median earnings · 10 yrs $62K
$103K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $59K
$132K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $88K
93.5% Graduation rate 68.8%
95.5% Retention rate 86%
$16,250 Median debt $21,000
$70,704 Tuition · year $30,432
$59,574 Avg. aid package $19,700
100% % of need met 78.6%
$25,584 Avg. graduate debt $27,212
— Application fee $40
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Tufts leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance11.5% vs 93.5%
Aid$59,574 vs $19,700
Tuition$70,704 vs $30,432

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 93.5% 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 $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 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 Kansas 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 93.5% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1190).

Graduate outcomes

Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $62K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 68.8%).

Cost and aid

Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $70,704); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $19,700).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kTuftsKansas TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Tufts and Kansas highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Tufts Kansas
World rank · ARWU#151-200#301-400
Rank · THE#179—
Acceptance rate11.5%93.5%
Yield rate45.5%25.5%
Median SAT15131190
Avg. GPA—3.70
Number of applications34,43222,363
International students17%7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K$62K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$103K$59K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$132K$88K
Graduation rate93.5%68.8%
Retention rate95.5%86%
Median debt$16,250$21,000
Tuition · year$70,704$30,432
Avg. aid package$59,574$19,700
% of need met100%78.6%
Avg. graduate debt$25,584$27,212
Application fee—$40
Enrollment13,59929,792

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Kansas?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.5%.

Do Tufts or Kansas graduates earn more?

Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $62K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Kansas?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $30,432 per year at Kansas.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Kansas?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or Kansas?

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

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Kansas?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $19,700 at Kansas.

Compare Tufts with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins 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.