Tufts vs. Princeton

Deciding between Tufts University and Princeton 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.

Tufts University
Princeton University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • Princeton #1
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • Princeton -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • Princeton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • Princeton 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • Princeton Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • Princeton $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • Princeton 52%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • Princeton Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • Princeton No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • Princeton 45%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • Princeton 22%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • Princeton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • Princeton 9%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • Princeton 4%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • Princeton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • Princeton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • Princeton 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • Princeton 74%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Tufts University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Tufts vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Princeton? 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 Princeton University than Tufts ($15,313 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 8.2% lower than at Princeton University ($18,588 vs. $20,250).
  • Tufts University is 12.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $8,016 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at Tufts than at Princeton University (about $8,016 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Tufts University (67% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 22.9% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($68,727 vs. $55,933).

Tufts vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton 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 Princeton (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Tufts (3.91).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Tufts vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and Princeton? 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).

  • Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Tufts University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $30,800 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $10,500 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($7,500 vs. $18,000).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tufts graduates ($77 vs. $186).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 83%)

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.