Tufts vs Stony Brook - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Tufts admits 11.5% of applicants, while Stony Brook admits 49%.
Real money goes to international students at Tufts ($80,079 on average), while Stony Brook stops at $2,834.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Tufts lists $93,182 against $55,085 (Stony Brook), but after average aid what remains is $33,608 against $39,824.
Ten years on, graduates of Tufts earn noticeably more: $83K against $75K.
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
Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.49% vs 49.04% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #301-400). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 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 world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Stony Brook for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Tufts is more selective (11.49% vs 49.04% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1410).
Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $75K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $73,616); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 49.04% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 14.7% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1410 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 55,880 |
| International students | 12.5% | 10.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $49K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $107K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 75.6% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 89.7% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $18,228 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $32,741 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $15,261 |
| % of need met | 100% | 0.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $23,558 |
| Application fee | - | - |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 26,689 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Stony Brook?
It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Stony Brook accepts 49.04%.
Do Tufts or Stony Brook graduates earn more?
Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Stony Brook?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $32,741 per year at Stony Brook.
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Stony Brook?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1410 at Stony Brook; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Stony Brook?
Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #301-400 for Stony Brook.
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Stony Brook?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $15,261 at Stony Brook.
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