Tufts University
MEDFORD, MA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs North carolina — 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #35
#179 Rank · THE #70
11.5% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1513 Median SAT 1439
93.5% Graduation rate 91.2%
13,599 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 15.3%
45.5% Yield rate 45.5%
1513 Median SAT 1439
— Avg. GPA 4.50
34,432 Number of applications 66,535
17% Int'l students 9%
$83K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$103K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$132K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
93.5% Graduation rate 91.2%
95.5% Retention rate 96.6%
$16,250 Median debt $14,000
$70,704 Tuition · year $41,203
$59,574 Avg. aid package $20,705
100% % of need met 100%
$25,584 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
— Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Tufts leads in 5 of 11 measured metrics
Aid$59,574 vs $20,705
Tuition$70,704 vs $41,203
Acceptance11.5% vs 15.3%

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 15.3% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #35). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 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: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

Choose North carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher retention, 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 15.3% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $72K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 91.2%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $70,704); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Tufts North carolina
World rank · ARWU#151-200#35
Rank · THE#179#70
Acceptance rate11.5%15.3%
Yield rate45.5%45.5%
Median SAT15131439
Avg. GPA—4.50
Number of applications34,43266,535
International students17%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$103K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$132K$112K
Graduation rate93.5%91.2%
Retention rate95.5%96.6%
Median debt$16,250$14,000
Tuition · year$70,704$41,203
Avg. aid package$59,574$20,705
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$25,584$20,382
Application fee—$85
Enrollment13,59932,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or North carolina?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Tufts or North carolina graduates earn more?

Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or North carolina?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or North carolina?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #35 for North carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or North carolina?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $20,705 at North carolina.

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.