Tufts University vs Boston College
Tufts University and Boston College, both esteemed institutions in the Boston area, offer distinct educational experiences. Tufts, known for its rigorous academics and research opportunities, boasts an acceptance rate of 13%, while Boston College, with its strong liberal arts foundation and Jesuit tradition, has an acceptance rate of 26%. Tufts students pursue diverse majors, with popular choices including biomedical engineering, international relations, and psychology, while Boston College students often major in finance, marketing, and nursing. Tufts' student body is slightly more diverse, with 44% students of color compared to Boston College's 36%. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Tufts at 93% and Boston College at 92%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and find the university that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Boston College |
![]() Tufts University |
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Overview |
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Location | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Medford, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 19.0% | 11.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$85
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SAT range | 1420 - 1530 | 1440 - 1550 |
ACT range | 33 - 34 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 30.0% | 32.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 23.0% |
Total number of applicants | 39,846 | 31,198 |
Total number of admissions given out | 7,587 | 3,566 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,516 | 1,800 |
Yield rate | 33.2% | 50.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $76,606 | $81,700 |
Average net price | $30,159 | $31,630 |
Tuition | $60,530 | $61,646 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,780
Meal plan:
$5,822
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Room/dormitory:
$8,832
Meal plan:
$7,378
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
39.0%
Average amount $48,693 |
38.0%
Average amount $47,937 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
33.0%
Average amount $3,579 |
20.0%
Average amount $3,824 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $2,200 |
9.0%
Average amount $8,607 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
9,955
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
6,676
Men 44.8% Women 55.2% |
Graduate students |
5,622
Men 42.2% Women 57.8% |
6,617
Men 38.6% Women 61.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 12.4% | 14.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 7,602 | 4,100 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | New York California New Jersey Connecticut Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 90.8% | 93.8% |
Dropout rate | 2.5% | 1.2% |
Transferred out | 6.4% | 4.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
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