Tufts vs. Dartmouth

Comparable Facts

Compare Tufts University in Medford, MA with Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tufts University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Dartmouth College is in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting).
• Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Dartmouth College 7:1.

Tufts vs. Dartmouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Dartmouth? 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 Dartmouth College than Tufts ($20,322 vs. $32,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 7.1% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,588 vs. $19,999).
• Tufts University is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dartmouth (about $2,436 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at Tufts than at Dartmouth College (about $2,436 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dartmouth College than at Tufts University (47% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 20.6% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($67,471 vs. $55,933).

Tufts vs. Dartmouth Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 20 points higher than at Tufts (1520).
• Incoming Tufts students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Dartmouth (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Dartmouth College 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Dartmouth College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Dartmouth - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 69.1% at Dartmouth.

Tufts vs. Dartmouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and Dartmouth? 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).

• Dartmouth College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Tufts University's (90%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $20,900 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $4,539 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($13,461 vs. $18,000).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 87%)

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.