Tufts vs. RPI

Should I go to Tufts University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Tufts or RPI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Tufts University vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Tufts University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Tufts University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 Tufts RPI
Location Medford, MA Troy, NY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 13,431 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #32 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website tufts.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Tufts RPI
Tuition (In State) $63,804 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $63,804 $58,600
Room & Board $16,778 $16,980
Avg Net Price $30,479 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $51,613 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 39% 90%

Admission

 Tufts RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 34,882 16,863
Admitted 3,381 10,878
Acceptance Rate 9.7% 64.5%
Enrolled % 50.1% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/35 30/34
SAT Range 1450/1550 1360/1520
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Tufts RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (31%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Tufts RPI
Graduation Rate 90% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $83,100 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,000 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $186 $284

Diversity

 Tufts RPI
% Men 41% 69%
% Women 59% 31%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 59%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 9% 11%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

 Tufts RPI
% In-State 21% 36%
% Out-of-State 65% 58%

Campus

 Tufts RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Tufts University is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (13,431 students vs. 6,968 students)

Tufts vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or RPI?

  • Tufts University is 8.9% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($63,804.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.9% higher at Tufts than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($63,804.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tufts University than RPI ($30,479 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 1.2% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,778 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Tufts University (90% vs. 39%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 33.6% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($51,613 vs. $38,636)

Tufts vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tufts or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or Tufts .

  • The average SAT score at Tufts University (1424) is 56 points higher than at RPI (1368)
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at RPI (30)
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RPI (3.88)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Tufts (9.7%)

Tufts vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Tufts or RPI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RPI and Tufts.

  • The graduation rate at Tufts is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (90% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn on average $600 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $82,500)
  • Tufts University students graduate with a $9,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($18,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Tufts graduates are paying $98 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($186 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tufts students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 91%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/