Harvard vs. Tufts

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Tufts University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Tufts #33
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Tufts -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Tufts

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Tufts $55,933
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Tufts 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Tufts 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Tufts 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Tufts A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Tufts Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Tufts Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Tufts 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Tufts 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Tufts 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Tufts $186

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Tufts 41%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Tufts 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Tufts High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Tufts No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Tufts 58%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Tufts 11%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Tufts 6%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Tufts 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Tufts 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Tufts 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Tufts 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Tufts University is in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Tufts University 10:1.

Harvard vs. Tufts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Tufts ($17,525 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 12.3% lower than at Harvard University ($18,588 vs. $21,190).
  • Tufts University is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $9,028 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at Tufts than at Harvard University (about $9,028 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Tufts University (56% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 21.6% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($68,015 vs. $55,933).

Harvard vs. Tufts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Tufts (1520).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Tufts).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Tufts University 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Tufts University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Tufts - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Tufts (3.91).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 45.5% at Tufts.

Harvard vs. Tufts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Tufts University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $53,600 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $11,500 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($6,500 vs. $18,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $119 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tufts graduates ($67 vs. $186).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 70%)

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.