Tufts vs Stanford - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Stanford admits 3.8%, Tufts admits 11.5%.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Stanford lists $97,545 against $93,182 (Tufts), but after average aid what remains is $20,266 against $33,608.
On both axes at once the winner is Stanford: lower tuition ($68,574 against $73,616) and a higher median salary ($124K against $83K, Tufts).
40 points separate the SAT profiles: 1550 (Stanford) against 1510.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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
Stanford is the more selective of the two (3.8% vs 11.49% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #2). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $83K). Stanford has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,574 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 Stanford 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
Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 11.49% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1510).
Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $83K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 91.9%).
Stanford has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,574 vs $73,616); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $59,574).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Stanford |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #2 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | #6 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 3.8% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 79.9% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1550 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.94 |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 60,646 |
| International students | 12.5% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $124K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $220K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 91.9% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 97.5% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $12,000 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $68,574 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $77,279 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $28,507 |
| Application fee | - | $100 |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 18,121 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Stanford?
It's harder to get into Stanford. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Stanford accepts 3.8%.
Do Tufts or Stanford graduates earn more?
Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Stanford?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $68,574 per year at Stanford.
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Stanford?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1550 at Stanford; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Stanford?
Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #2 for Stanford.
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Stanford?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $77,279 at Stanford.
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