Is BU or Tufts harder to get into?

Tufts is harder to get into than BU. Tufts's 9.5% acceptance rate is lower than BU's 11.1%.

Which is cheaper, BU or Tufts?

BU costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, BU's average net price is $24,402 vs $39,998 at Tufts.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, BU or Tufts?

BU graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $83,238 at BU and $83,214 at Tufts.

BU vs. Tufts: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	BU	Tufts
Acceptance rate	11.1%	9.5%
SAT mid-50%	1420–1530	1490–1550
ACT mid-50%	32–34	33–35
Cost of attendance	$86,285	$89,464
Avg net price (after aid)	$24,402	$39,998
Undergrad enrollment	18,248	6,826
6-yr graduation rate	88.7%	93.5%
Median earnings (10yr)	$83,238	$83,214
Setting	Boston, Massachusetts	Medford, Massachusetts

The Real Differences

Tufts is modestly harder to get into. The 1.6-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

BU is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $15,596 per year, $62,384 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

BU is substantially larger with 18,248 undergrads vs 6,826 at Tufts. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

BU has a more international student body (21.2% non-resident students vs 12.6%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.

Tufts's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (93.5% vs 88.7% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. BU is 58.1% women, 21.2% international, and 20.5% Asian-American. Tufts is 56.5% women, 12.6% international, and 16.8% Asian-American.

Demographic	BU	Tufts
Women	58.1%	56.5%
International	21.2%	12.6%
White	32.2%	40.6%
Asian	20.5%	16.8%
Hispanic	11.5%	10.1%
Black	5.9%	6.1%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at BU vs. Tufts?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick BU if

Your odds are realistic at BU (slightly easier admit)
Net price matters: BU costs $15,596 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($83,238 vs $83,214)
the Kilachand Honors College

Pick Tufts if

Higher 6-year graduation rate
the Fletcher School ties

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Boston University

11.1% accept · Boston, Massachusetts

Full profile

Tufts University

9.5% accept · Medford, Massachusetts

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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