Tufts vs. NYU

Deciding between Tufts University and New York 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.

Tufts University
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; New York University 8:1.

Tufts vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or NYU? 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 New York University than Tufts ($30,325 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 21% lower than at New York University ($18,588 vs. $23,530).
  • Tufts University is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $7,908 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at Tufts than at New York University (about $7,908 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tufts University than at New York University (39% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 3.8% larger than aid received by New York University students ($55,933 vs. $53,901).

Tufts vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is the same as at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming Tufts students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at NYU (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Tufts vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and NYU? 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($18,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($186 vs. $240).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.