West Virginia vs Tufts - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
West Virginia accepts most of the applications it receives (89%), while Tufts turns away the overwhelming majority (11.5%).
The share of international students differs sharply: 12.5% (Tufts) against 1.7% (West Virginia).
Average aid for an international student is $80,079 (Tufts) and $21,636 (West Virginia).
On paper the cheaper option is West Virginia: $28,608 against $73,616, which is $45,008 less a year.
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
Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.49% vs 89% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #151-200). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 West Virginia for: lower tuition.
Choose Tufts 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
Tufts is more selective (11.49% vs 89% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1110).
Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $56K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $73,616); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | West Virginia | Tufts |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #151-200 |
| Rank · THE | - | #179 |
| Acceptance rate | 89% | 11.49% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1110 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.70 | - |
| Number of applications | 20,150 | 34,432 |
| International students | 1.7% | 12.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $56K | $83K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $36K | $47K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $84K | $132K |
| Graduation rate | 64.7% | 93.5% |
| Retention rate | 83.4% | 95.5% |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $16,250 |
| Tuition · year | $28,608 | $73,616 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,730 | $59,574 |
| % of need met | 63% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,010 | $25,584 |
| Application fee | $65 | - |
| Enrollment | 23,643 | 13,599 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into West Virginia or Tufts?
It's harder to get into Tufts. West Virginia accepts 89% of applicants, while Tufts accepts 11.49%.
Do West Virginia or Tufts graduates earn more?
Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at West Virginia vs Tufts?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,608 per year at West Virginia and $73,616 per year at Tufts.
What SAT score do you need for West Virginia or Tufts?
The median admitted SAT score is 1110 at West Virginia and 1510 at Tufts; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - West Virginia or Tufts?
Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for West Virginia vs #151-200 for Tufts.
Which university offers more financial aid - West Virginia or Tufts?
The average aid package is $16,730 at West Virginia and $59,574 at Tufts.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern