Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Northeastern is 2.1× more selective than Tufts
Acceptance rate - 2
Northeastern's yield is 5 pts higher than Tufts's
Yield rate - 3
Tufts's SAT midpoint is 5 points higher than Northeastern's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- NortheasternUltra selective
- TuftsHighly selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1300–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- NortheasternTest-optional
- TuftsTest-optional
How they read a record
Northeastern
, GPA, and tests are all very important; class rank is considered. 95% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
Tufts
The high school record and a college-prep program are required; GPA and class rank are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Northeastern | Tufts |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Considered | Required |
| Recommendations | Very important | Required |
| Essay | Considered | Required |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Important | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Northeastern University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2025 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;Tufts University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Tufts University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Tufts University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why