MEDFORD, MA

AMHERST, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.49%

Median SAT1510

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Amherst, MA

World rank · ARWU#501-600

Acceptance63.5%

Median SAT1456

Graduation rate83.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

#151-200 World rank · ARWU #501-600

#179 Rank · THE -

11.49% Acceptance rate 63.5%

1510 Median SAT 1456

93.5% Graduation rate 83.6%

13,599 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.49% Acceptance rate 63.5%

45.5% Yield rate 14.4%

1510 Median SAT 1456

- Avg. GPA 3.93

34,432 Number of applications 14,356

12.5% Int'l students 2.2%

At a glance

Tufts leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance11.49% vs 63.5%

Yield45.5% vs 14.4%

Grad. debt$25,584 vs $39,539

The verdict, from the data

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts most of the applications it receives (63.5%), while Tufts turns away the overwhelming majority (11.5%).

The more international environment is at Tufts (12.5% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

Average aid for an international student is $80,079 (Tufts) and $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

You do not have to choose between price and outcome here: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute costs $67,976 against $73,616, and its graduates earn $102K against $83K (Tufts).

The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.

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 63.5% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 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: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Tufts is more selective (11.49% vs 63.5% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $73,616); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Tufts	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU	#151-200	#501-600
Rank · THE	#179	-
Acceptance rate	11.49%	63.5%
Yield rate	45.5%	14.4%
Median SAT	1510	1456
Avg. GPA	-	3.93
Number of applications	34,432	14,356
International students	12.5%	2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$83K	$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$47K	$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$132K	$137K
Graduation rate	93.5%	83.6%
Retention rate	95.5%	91%
Median debt	$16,250	$23,750
Tuition · year	$73,616	$67,976
Avg. aid package	$59,574	$50,402
% of need met	100%	66.2%
Avg. graduate debt	$25,584	$39,539
Application fee	-	$70
Enrollment	13,599	7,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Tufts or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

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

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Compare Tufts with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Washington University

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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.