UMass vs. Tufts

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and Tufts 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.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Tufts University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Tufts #33
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Tufts -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Tufts

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Tufts $55,933
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Tufts 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Tufts 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Tufts 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Tufts A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Tufts Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Tufts Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Tufts 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Tufts 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Tufts 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Tufts $186

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Tufts 41%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Tufts 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Tufts High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Tufts No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Tufts 58%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Tufts 11%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Tufts 6%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Tufts 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Tufts 4%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Tufts 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Tufts 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Tufts 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Tufts 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Tufts University is in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Tufts University 10:1.

UMass vs. Tufts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Tufts? 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst than Tufts ($22,948 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 10.1% lower than at Tufts University ($16,710 vs. $18,588).
  • Tufts University is 297.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $52,932 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.8% higher at Tufts than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $30,255 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Tufts University (81% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 326.6% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($55,933 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Tufts Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 110 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Tufts students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Tufts University 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Tufts University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Tufts - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Tufts (3.91).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 45.5% at Tufts.

UMass vs. Tufts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Tufts? 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $27,900 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($18,000 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($186 vs. $248).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 76%)

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.