Tufts University
MEDFORD, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CAMBRIDGE, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Massachusetts institute of technology — 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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Cambridge, MA
World rank · ARWU#3
Acceptance4.5%
Median SAT1560
Graduation rate96.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$143K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University Massachusetts Institute of Technology
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #3
#179 Rank · THE #2
11.5% Acceptance rate 4.5%
1513 Median SAT 1560
93.5% Graduation rate 96.4%
13,599 Enrollment 11,886

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 4.5%
45.5% Yield rate 86.1%
1513 Median SAT 1560
— Avg. GPA —
34,432 Number of applications 28,232
17% Int'l students 33%
$83K Median earnings · 10 yrs $143K
$103K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $154K
$132K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $243K
93.5% Graduation rate 96.4%
95.5% Retention rate 99%
$16,250 Median debt $14,768
$70,704 Tuition · year $62,396
$59,574 Avg. aid package $68,358
100% % of need met 100%
$25,584 Avg. graduate debt $29,488
— Application fee $75
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Massachusetts institute of technology leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance11.5% vs 4.5%
Yield45.5% vs 86.1%
Earnings$83K vs $143K

EXPERT TAKE

Massachusetts institute of technology is the more selective of the two (4.5% vs 11.5% acceptance). Massachusetts institute of technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #3). Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $83K). Massachusetts institute of technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,396 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 Massachusetts institute of technology 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

Massachusetts institute of technology is more selective (4.5% vs 11.5% acceptance); Massachusetts institute of technology has a higher median SAT (1560 vs 1513).

Graduate outcomes

Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $83K); Massachusetts institute of technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 93.5%).

Cost and aid

Massachusetts institute of technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,396 vs $70,704); Massachusetts institute of technology offers a larger average aid package ($68,358 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Tufts Massachusetts institute of technology
World rank · ARWU#151-200#3
Rank · THE#179#2
Acceptance rate11.5%4.5%
Yield rate45.5%86.1%
Median SAT15131560
Avg. GPA——
Number of applications34,43228,232
International students17%33%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K$143K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$103K$154K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$132K$243K
Graduation rate93.5%96.4%
Retention rate95.5%99%
Median debt$16,250$14,768
Tuition · year$70,704$62,396
Avg. aid package$59,574$68,358
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$25,584$29,488
Application fee—$75
Enrollment13,59911,886

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Massachusetts institute of technology?

It's harder to get into Massachusetts institute of technology. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Massachusetts institute of technology accepts 4.5%.

Do Tufts or Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn more?

Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $83K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Massachusetts institute of technology?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $62,396 per year at Massachusetts institute of technology.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Massachusetts institute of technology?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1560 at Massachusetts institute of technology; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or Massachusetts institute of technology?

Massachusetts institute of technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #3 for Massachusetts institute of technology.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Massachusetts institute of technology?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $68,358 at Massachusetts institute of technology.

Compare Tufts with
Harvard Stanford Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins 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.