Tufts University
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students focused on high earning potential. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $103,300 within 10 years; exceptional 94% graduation rate.
About This School
Tufts University is a private nonprofit institution located in Medford, Massachusetts with approximately 7,061 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 11%. The average net price after financial aid is $39,998 per year. The graduation rate is 94%, and the typical graduate earns $103,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Tufts University is a private research university in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, with additional facilities in Boston and Grafton, as well as Talloires, France. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. For much of the 20th century, Jackson College for Women was the coordinate college of Tufts. Tufts remained a small liberal arts college until the 1970s, when it became a larger research university offering doctorates in several disciplines.
This is a strong option for students who want a research university feel without losing the tight-knit community of a smaller school — a 96% freshman retention rate and 93% graduation rate suggest students genuinely want to stay and finish. The financial picture is better than many elite peers, with median debt at graduation of just $15,043 and earnings of $103,300 a decade out, meaning graduates tend to land well relative to what they borrowed. The main honest concern is access: a 10% acceptance rate makes this a reach for most applicants, so treat it as a serious but realistic stretch, not a safety.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 16% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Tufts University graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer Science ($156,343 vs $107,009 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 217 | $123,809 | $82,686 | +$41,123 |
| Computer Science | 211 | $156,343 | $107,009 | +$49,334 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 153 | $77,998 | $66,596 | +$11,402 |
| Biology, General | 147 | $76,782 | $57,214 | +$19,568 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 97 | $79,571 | $55,695 | +$23,876 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 88 | $41,365 | $41,367 | −$2 |
| Political Science and Government | 81 | $78,180 | $63,293 | +$14,887 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 79 | $101,196 | $92,135 | +$9,061 |
| Public Health | 77 | $75,448 | $58,808 | +$16,640 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 60 | $77,753 | $55,012 | +$22,741 |
| Sociology | 47 | $61,719 | $52,657 | +$9,062 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 44 | $59,960 | $43,765 | +$16,195 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (7,061 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Tufts University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Tufts University?
Tufts University has an acceptance rate of 11%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Tufts University hard to get into?
Yes. With an acceptance rate of 11%, Tufts University is highly selective, so strong grades, a rigorous course load, and a standout application matter.
How much does Tufts University cost?
The average net price at Tufts University is about $39,998 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Tufts University?
Tufts University has a graduation rate of 94%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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