Yale vs. Tufts

Deciding between Yale University and Tufts 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.

Yale University
Tufts University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Tufts #33
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Tufts -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Tufts
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Tufts $55,933
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Tufts 39%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Tufts 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Tufts 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Tufts A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Tufts Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Tufts Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Tufts 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Tufts 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Tufts 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Tufts $186
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Tufts 41%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Tufts 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Tufts High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Tufts No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Tufts 58%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Tufts 11%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Tufts 6%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Tufts 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Tufts 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Tufts 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Tufts 63%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Yale University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Tufts University is in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Tufts University 10:1.

Yale vs. Tufts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or Tufts? 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 Yale University than Tufts ($22,408 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 6.6% lower than at Yale University ($18,588 vs. $19,900).
  • Tufts University is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $3,454 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at Tufts than at Yale University (about $3,454 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Tufts University (56% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 17.8% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($65,892 vs. $55,933).

Yale vs. Tufts Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is the same as at Tufts (1520).
  • Incoming Yale students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Tufts (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Tufts University 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Tufts University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Tufts - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Tufts (3.91).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 45.5% at Tufts.

Yale vs. Tufts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale and Tufts? 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Tufts University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $35,300 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($13,500 vs. $18,000).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tufts graduates ($139 vs. $186).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 84%)

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.