Tufts vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

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

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Tufts vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon ($32,367 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 2.3% lower than at Tufts University ($18,166 vs. $18,588).
• Tufts University is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $4,458 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Tufts than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $4,458 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at Tufts University (51% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 16.3% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($55,933 vs. $48,107).

Tufts vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tufts or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon and Tufts.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 20 points higher than at Tufts (1520).
• Incoming Tufts students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Carnegie Mellon (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Carnegie Mellon (3.89).
• Carnegie Mellon has a higher acceptance rate (11.7%) than Tufts (11.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Tufts vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $8,250 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($18,000 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($186 vs. $271).
• More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carnegie Mellon students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 91%)

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.