Tufts University
MEDFORD, MA
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Rensselaer polytechnic institute — 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
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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 —
11.5% Acceptance rate 63.5%
1513 Median SAT 1456
93.5% Graduation rate 83.6%
13,599 Enrollment 6,761

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 63.5%
45.5% Yield rate 39.7%
1513 Median SAT 1456
— Avg. GPA —
34,432 Number of applications 15,819
17% Int'l students 19%
$83K Median earnings · 10 yrs $102K
$103K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $86K
$132K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $137K
93.5% Graduation rate 83.6%
95.5% Retention rate 98%
$16,250 Median debt $23,750
$70,704 Tuition · year $64,081
$59,574 Avg. aid package $76,097
100% % of need met 100%
$25,584 Avg. graduate debt $29,149
— Application fee $75
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Tufts leads in 6 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance11.5% vs 63.5%
Debt$16,250 vs $23,750
Aid$59,574 vs $76,097

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% 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 ($64,081 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, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Rensselaer polytechnic institute for: higher graduate earnings, 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 63.5% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 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 ($64,081 vs $70,704); Rensselaer polytechnic institute offers a larger average aid package ($76,097 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kTuftsRensselaer polytechnic institute TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
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 rate11.5%63.5%
Yield rate45.5%39.7%
Median SAT15131456
Avg. GPA——
Number of applications34,43215,819
International students17%19%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K$102K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$103K$86K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$132K$137K
Graduation rate93.5%83.6%
Retention rate95.5%98%
Median debt$16,250$23,750
Tuition · year$70,704$64,081
Avg. aid package$59,574$76,097
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$25,584$29,149
Application fee—$75
Enrollment13,5996,761

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Rensselaer polytechnic institute?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.5% 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 $70,704 per year at Tufts and $64,081 per year at Rensselaer polytechnic institute.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Rensselaer polytechnic institute?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 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 $76,097 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute.

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.