Tufts vs. Wake Forest

Deciding between Tufts University and Wake Forest 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
Wake Forest University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • Wake Forest -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • Wake Forest
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Wake Forest -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • Wake Forest -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • Wake Forest No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Tufts University in Medford, MA with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tufts University is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

Tufts vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest University than Tufts ($24,401 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wake Forest University are 0.5% lower than at Tufts University ($18,494 vs. $18,588).
  • Tufts University is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wake Forest (about $3,062 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,642.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at Tufts than at Wake Forest University (about $3,062 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,642.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tufts University than at Wake Forest University (39% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 12.8% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($63,117 vs. $55,933).

Tufts vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 50 points higher than at Wake Forest (1470).
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Wake Forest).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 1470/1560; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Wake Forest University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
  • Wake Forest has a higher acceptance rate (21.7%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

Tufts vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts and Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest University's (88%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Wake Forest graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($18,000 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($186 vs. $237).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wake Forest 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.