Tufts University vs Wesleyan University

Tufts University and Wesleyan University, both esteemed private institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Tufts, situated just outside Boston, boasts a larger student body and a wider range of academic programs, including highly regarded engineering and biomedical sciences departments. Wesleyan, nestled in Middletown, Connecticut, prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, small class sizes, and vibrant arts scene. With Tufts' acceptance rate hovering around 15% and Wesleyan's at 19%, both universities are highly selective. While Tufts enrolls a more diverse student body, Wesleyan excels in retaining its students, boasting a higher graduation rate. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two exceptional universities and determine which aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Tufts University logo

Tufts University

Wesleyan University logo

Wesleyan University

Overview

Location Medford, Massachusetts Middletown, Connecticut
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
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 97.0% 95.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 11.4% 19.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $85
$55
SAT range 1440 - 1550 1300 - 1510
ACT range 33 - 35 31 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 51.0%
Students submitting ACT score 23.0% 27.0%
Total number of applicants 31,198 13,067
Total number of admissions given out 3,566 2,540
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,800 910
Yield rate 50.5% 35.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $81,700 $82,245
Average net price $31,630 $20,535
Tuition $61,646 $61,449
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,832

Meal plan: $7,378
$17,531
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

38.0%
Average amount $47,937
40.0%
Average amount $58,925
Students receiving federal student loan 20.0%
Average amount $3,824
18.0%
Average amount $3,834
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $8,607
2.0%
Average amount $27,881

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,676
Men 44.8% Women 55.2%
3,385
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
Graduate students 6,617
Men 38.6% Women 61.4%
196
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 90.3%
International students 14.0% 11.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 4,100 3,063
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California New Jersey Connecticut Maryland New York California Connecticut New Jersey Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 93.8% 91.0%
Dropout rate 1.2% 3.6%
Transferred out 4.8% 5.3%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $210,928
  • Year 2: $207,590
  • Year 3: $167,393
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,934
  • Year 2: $112,802
  • Year 3: $128,899
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $120,961
  • Year 2: $113,135
  • Year 3: $123,967
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,612
  • Year 2: $107,163
  • Year 3: $117,666
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,349
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $113,556
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,010
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $111,235
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,720
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $89,511
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,529
  • Year 2: $73,635
  • Year 3: $83,832
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,321
  • Year 2: $71,778
  • Year 3: $83,710
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,852
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,984
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $53,847
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,232
  • Year 2: $36,334
  • Year 3: $45,541

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