BU vs. Tufts

Deciding between Boston University and Tufts University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University
Tufts University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Tufts #33
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Tufts -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Tufts

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Tufts $55,933
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Tufts 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Tufts 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Tufts 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Tufts A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Tufts Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Tufts Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Tufts 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Tufts 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Tufts 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Tufts $186

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Tufts 41%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Tufts 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Tufts High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Tufts No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Tufts 58%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Tufts 11%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Tufts 6%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Tufts 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Tufts 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Tufts 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Tufts 63%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BU Yes
  • Tufts Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BU No
  • Tufts No
  • Meal Plan
  • BU Yes
  • Tufts Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BU Yes
  • Tufts No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BU No
  • Tufts No

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 13,599 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Tufts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 Boston University than Tufts ($24,420 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 2.3% lower than at Boston University ($18,588 vs. $19,020).
  • Tufts University is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $2,602 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at Tufts than at Boston University (about $2,602 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Tufts University (49% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 10.6% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($61,848 vs. $55,933).

BU vs. Tufts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Tufts? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Tufts and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 40 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Boston University 1420/1530; Tufts University 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Boston University 32/34; Tufts University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Tufts - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Tufts students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 45.5% at Tufts.

BU vs. Tufts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Tufts? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Tufts University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($18,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($186 vs. $279).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 82%)

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.