Tufts vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Tufts University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Tufts vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Tufts ($20,522 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 15.5% lower than at Tufts University ($15,714 vs. $18,588).
  • Tufts University is 294.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $52,775 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.8% higher at Tufts than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $33,263 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Tufts University (50% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 234.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($55,933 vs. $16,742).

Tufts vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 110 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Tufts vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and Rutgers? 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).

  • Tufts University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $4,215 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($18,000 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($186 vs. $229).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 68%)

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.