Tufts vs. Brown

Deciding between Tufts University and Brown University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Tufts University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A-
  • Brown A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 18%
  • Brown 16%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 29%
  • Brown 18%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Tufts University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Brown University 6:1.

Tufts vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Brown? 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 Brown University than Tufts ($26,256 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 6.2% lower than at Tufts University ($17,444 vs. $18,588).
  • Brown University is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tufts (about $708 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $70,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Brown than at Tufts University (about $708 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $70,704.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Tufts University (52% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 9.8% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($61,392 vs. $55,933).

Tufts vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Tufts (1520).
  • Incoming Tufts students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Tufts (3.91).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Tufts vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Tufts University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($15,000 vs. $18,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tufts graduates ($155 vs. $186).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brown students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)

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.