MEDFORD, MA

ROCHESTER, NY

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Rochester — US university comparison

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.5%

Median SAT1513

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

ROCHESTER

Rochester, NY

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance40.1%

Median SAT1488

Graduation rate85.4%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University University of Rochester

#151-200 World rank · ARWU #151-200

#179 Rank · THE #127

11.5% Acceptance rate 40.1%

1513 Median SAT 1488

93.5% Graduation rate 85.4%

13,599 Enrollment 11,946

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 40.1%

45.5% Yield rate 15.4%

1513 Median SAT 1488

— Avg. GPA 3.70

34,432 Number of applications 21,384

17% Int'l students 37%

At a glance

Tufts leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance11.5% vs 40.1%

Yield45.5% vs 15.4%

Debt$16,250 vs $21,000

EXPERT TAKE

Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.5% vs 40.1% acceptance). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $79K). Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,080 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 Rochester for: lower tuition, a larger aid package.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Tufts is more selective (11.5% vs 40.1% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1513 vs 1488).

Graduate outcomes

Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $79K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 85.4%).

Cost and aid

Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,080 vs $70,704); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Tufts	Rochester
World rank · ARWU	#151-200	#151-200
Rank · THE	#179	#127
Acceptance rate	11.5%	40.1%
Yield rate	45.5%	15.4%
Median SAT	1513	1488
Avg. GPA	—	3.70
Number of applications	34,432	21,384
International students	17%	37%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$83K	$79K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$103K	$74K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$132K	$117K
Graduation rate	93.5%	85.4%
Retention rate	95.5%	90.7%
Median debt	$16,250	$21,000
Tuition · year	$70,704	$67,080
Avg. aid package	$59,574	$60,879
% of need met	100%	96.1%
Avg. graduate debt	$25,584	$32,304
Application fee	—	$50
Enrollment	13,599	11,946

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Rochester?

It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Rochester accepts 40.1%.

Do Tufts or Rochester graduates earn more?

Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $79K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Rochester?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $67,080 per year at Rochester.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Rochester?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1488 at Rochester; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Rochester?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $60,879 at Rochester.

Compare Tufts with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts institute of technology

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.