Tufts vs. SMU

Should I go to Tufts University or Southern Methodist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Tufts or SMU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

TCU Baylor Northeastern Middlebury BC UT Austin Amherst UT Dallas BU Vassar Texas A&M Emory
Tufts University vs. Southern Methodist University comparison
Tufts University Southern Methodist University College 3 College 4
Tufts University Southern Methodist University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Tufts SMU
Location Medford, MA Dallas, TX
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,431 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #32 #67
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website tufts.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Tufts SMU
Tuition (In State) $63,804 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $63,804 $55,012
Room & Board $16,778 $17,750
Avg Net Price $30,479 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $51,613 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 39% 73%

Admission

Tufts SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 34,882 16,150
Admitted 3,381 8,439
Acceptance Rate 9.7% 52.3%
Enrolled % 50.1% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/35 31/34
SAT Range 1450/1550 1370/1510
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 SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (31%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Tufts SMU
Graduation Rate 90% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $83,100 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $186 $222

Diversity

Tufts SMU
% Men 41% 50%
% Women 59% 50%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 65%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 9% 8%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Tufts SMU
% In-State 21% 38%
% Out-of-State 65% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Tufts University is larger than than SMU based on total student enrollment (13,431 students vs. 12,053 students)

Tufts vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or SMU?

  • Tufts University is 16% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($63,804.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16% higher at Tufts than Southern Methodist University ($63,804.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tufts University than SMU ($30,479 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 5.8% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($16,778 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Tufts University (73% vs. 39%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 46% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($51,613 vs. $35,344)

Tufts vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Tufts University (1424) is 94 points higher than at SMU (1330)
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at SMU (30)
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at SMU (3.68)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Tufts (9.7%)

Tufts vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Tufts or SMU? 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 SMU and Tufts.

  • The graduation rate at Tufts is higher than Southern Methodist University (90% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn on average $10,100 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $73,000)
  • Tufts University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($18,000 vs. $21,500)
  • Tufts graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($186 vs. $222)
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 76%)

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