Tufts vs Southern California - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Average aid for an international student is $80,079 (Tufts) and $25,384 (Southern California).
On both axes at once the winner is Southern California: lower tuition ($68,687 against $73,616) and a higher median salary ($92K against $83K, Tufts).
These admissions operate at different scales: Southern California reads 82,027 applications a year, its rival 34,432.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 11.49% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #62). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $83K). Southern California has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,687 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 graduation rate, lower graduate debt.
Choose Southern California 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
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 11.49% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1495).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $83K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 91.8%).
Southern California has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,687 vs $73,616); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $59,574).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #62 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | #72 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 9.81% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 43.3% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1495 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.80 |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 82,027 |
| International students | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $92K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 91.8% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 95.6% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $68,687 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $71,169 |
| % of need met | 100% | 99.3% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $27,678 |
| Application fee | - | $85 |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 46,566 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Southern California?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Southern California accepts 9.81%.
Do Tufts or Southern California graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Southern California?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $68,687 per year at Southern California.
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Southern California?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1495 at Southern California; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Southern California?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #62 for Southern California.
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Southern California?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $71,169 at Southern California.
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