Amherst vs. Tufts

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Tufts University in Medford, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tufts University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Tufts University is in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Tufts University 10:1.

Amherst vs. Tufts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Tufts? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Tufts ($19,049 vs. $32,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 1.1% lower than at Tufts University ($18,390 vs. $18,588).
• Tufts University is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Amherst (about $224 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Tufts than at Amherst College (about $224 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Tufts University (59% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 22.6% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($68,591 vs. $55,933).

Amherst vs. Tufts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Tufts? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Tufts and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 20 points higher than at Tufts (1520).
• Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Tufts (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Tufts University 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Tufts University 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Tufts - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have the same average high school GPA (3.91) as students at Tufts (3.91).
• Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 45.5% at Tufts.

Amherst vs. Tufts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Tufts? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Tufts University's (90%).
• Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $5,025 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($12,975 vs. $18,000).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tufts graduates ($134 vs. $186).
• More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.