Tufts University
MEDFORD, MA
University of Rhode Island
KINGSTON, RI
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Rhode island — 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 Rhode Island
RHODE ISLAND
Kingston, RI
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance72.2%
Median SAT1160
Graduation rate73.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University University of Rhode Island
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #801-900
#179 Rank · THE —
11.5% Acceptance rate 72.2%
1513 Median SAT 1160
93.5% Graduation rate 73.3%
13,599 Enrollment 17,649

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 72.2%
45.5% Yield rate 15.4%
1513 Median SAT 1160
— Avg. GPA 3.60
34,432 Number of applications 26,987
17% Int'l students 3%
$83K Median earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$103K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $58K
$132K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $102K
93.5% Graduation rate 73.3%
95.5% Retention rate 83.6%
$16,250 Median debt $22,250
$70,704 Tuition · year $37,146
$59,574 Avg. aid package $17,388
100% % of need met 60%
$25,584 Avg. graduate debt $40,247
— Application fee $65
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Tufts leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance11.5% vs 72.2%
Aid$59,574 vs $17,388
Yield45.5% vs 15.4%

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 72.2% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #801-900). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $70K). Rhode island has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,146 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 Rhode island 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 72.2% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1160).

Graduate outcomes

Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $70K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 73.3%).

Cost and aid

Rhode island has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,146 vs $70,704); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $17,388).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Tufts Rhode island
World rank · ARWU#151-200#801-900
Rank · THE#179—
Acceptance rate11.5%72.2%
Yield rate45.5%15.4%
Median SAT15131160
Avg. GPA—3.60
Number of applications34,43226,987
International students17%3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K$70K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$103K$58K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$132K$102K
Graduation rate93.5%73.3%
Retention rate95.5%83.6%
Median debt$16,250$22,250
Tuition · year$70,704$37,146
Avg. aid package$59,574$17,388
% of need met100%60%
Avg. graduate debt$25,584$40,247
Application fee—$65
Enrollment13,59917,649

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Rhode island?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Rhode island accepts 72.2%.

Do Tufts or Rhode island graduates earn more?

Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Rhode island?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $37,146 per year at Rhode island.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Rhode island?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1160 at Rhode island; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or Rhode island?

Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #801-900 for Rhode island.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Rhode island?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $17,388 at Rhode island.

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.