Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Duke is 2.3× more selective than Tufts
Acceptance rate - 2
Duke's yield is 10 pts higher than Tufts's
Yield rate - 3
Duke's SAT midpoint is 45 points higher than Tufts'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
- TuftsHighly selective
- DukeUltra 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 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- TuftsTest-optional
- DukeTest-optional
How they read a record
Tufts
The high school record and a college-prep program are required; GPA and class rank are considered.
Duke
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Tufts | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Important |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Required | Very important |
| Essay | Required | Important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Not considered |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Tufts University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Tufts University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Tufts University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;Duke University (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Duke 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