Tufts vs Rice - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Rice admits 8% of applicants, while Tufts admits 11.5%.
You do not have to choose between price and outcome here: Rice costs $67,497 against $73,616, and its graduates earn $90K against $83K (Tufts).
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Rice: 1540 against 1510, a gap of 30 points.
Both universities state that they meet the full assessed financial need, so the gap in list prices need not reach your own bill.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Rice is the more selective of the two (8% vs 11.49% acceptance). Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #101-150). Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $83K). Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 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: lower graduate debt.
Choose Rice 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
Rice is more selective (8% vs 11.49% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1510).
Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $83K); Rice has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.6% vs 93.5%).
Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $73,616); Rice offers a larger average aid package ($69,040 vs $59,574).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 8% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 44.2% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 32,473 |
| International students | 12.5% | 13% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $90K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $63K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $144K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 94.6% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 97.4% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $11,000 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $67,497 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $69,040 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $28,418 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 8,961 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Rice?
It's harder to get into Rice. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Rice accepts 8%.
Do Tufts or Rice graduates earn more?
Rice graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $90K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Rice?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $67,497 per year at Rice.
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Rice?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1540 at Rice; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Rice?
Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #101-150 for Rice.
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Rice?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $69,040 at Rice.
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