MHC vs. Tufts

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Tufts University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Tufts #33
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Tufts -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Tufts

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Tufts $55,933
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Tufts 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Tufts 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Tufts 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Tufts A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Tufts Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Tufts Very High
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Tufts 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Tufts 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Tufts 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Tufts $186

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Tufts 41%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Tufts 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Tufts High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Tufts No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Tufts 58%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Tufts 11%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Tufts 6%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Tufts 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Tufts 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Tufts 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Tufts 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, 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 MHC based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Tufts University is in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Tufts University 10:1.

MHC vs. Tufts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 Tufts University than MHC ($32,367 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 5.6% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($18,588 vs. $19,684).
  • Tufts University is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $3,686 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Tufts than at Mount Holyoke College (about $3,686 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Tufts University (77% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($55,933 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Tufts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 60 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Tufts University 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Tufts University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Tufts - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 45.5% at Tufts.

MHC vs. Tufts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Tufts University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $33,100 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $3,206 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($18,000 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($186 vs. $219).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 77%)

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.