Tufts vs. RPI

Deciding between Tufts University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? 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
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Tufts University in Medford, MA with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tufts University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Tufts vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or RPI? 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 RPI ($32,367 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 2.5% lower than at Tufts University ($18,120 vs. $18,588).
  • Tufts University is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $6,623 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at Tufts than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $6,623 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Tufts University (95% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 28.5% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($55,933 vs. $43,517).

Tufts vs. RPI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 80 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (63.5%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Tufts vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and RPI? 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $600 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($18,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.