Tufts vs. Stanford

Deciding between Tufts University and Stanford 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Tufts vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than Tufts ($25,078 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 12.8% lower than at Stanford University ($18,588 vs. $21,315).
  • Tufts University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $4,794 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Tufts than at Stanford University (about $4,794 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Tufts University (61% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 12.2% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($62,755 vs. $55,933).

Tufts vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford 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 Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Tufts (3.91).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Tufts vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Tufts University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $39,800 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $5,525 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($12,475 vs. $18,000).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tufts graduates ($128 vs. $186).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stanford students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 88%)

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.