Head-to-Head Comparison
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences vs Tufts University
- Massachusetts Pharmacy Wins
- 17
- Tied
- 16
- Tufts Wins
- 15
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a significantly safer investment tier. While Tufts University achieves a higher graduation rate (93% vs 63%), its annual cost of attendance sits at $39,998 compared to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545. Students who choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences benefit from a cost structure that keeps debt manageable while maintaining competitive graduate earnings of $125,557 at ten years.
48 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Massachusetts Pharmacy
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, 51% more than Tufts University
- Lower cost: Average net price of $39,545, roughly $453 a year less
Tufts
- Higher grad rate: 93% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- Less debt: Median debt of $16,250, the lower of the two
- More selective: Admits 11% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Massachusetts Pharmacy graduates concentrate in Health Professions (93% of degrees); Tufts in Social Sciences (20%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over Tufts University. Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment vs $83,214.
Pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over Tufts University. Net price $39,545 vs $39,998.
Pick Tufts University over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 93% completion rate vs 63%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Tufts University are close on paper, but Tufts University wins the head-to-head, leading on 3 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.
Getting in
Tufts University is the harder admit. It takes 11% of applicants, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences takes 85%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,269 to 1,513.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Tufts University sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $39,545, about $453 a year below Tufts University's $39,998. Graduates of Tufts University also borrow less: median debt of $16,250, against $25,000.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $1,812 before any change in aid. Choosing Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report median earnings of $125,557, compared with $83,214 at Tufts University. That is a 51% advantage.
So what: An earnings gap of 51% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Finishing the degree
Tufts University graduates a larger share of its students, 93% versus 63%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 31% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to keep costs and debt down.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 5 of 6 core signals used here; where one school is missing a figure, that row is left out of the comparison rather than estimated.
Counterintuitive Insights
Their academic identities diverge. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences concentrates enrollment in Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, while Tufts University leans toward Social Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science & IT. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Students minimizing debt: median debt is $25,000, against $16,250 at Tufts University.
- Engineering-focused students: Tufts University has the stronger engineering programs.
- Students who want a smaller campus: Tufts University's enrollment of 7,061 far exceeds Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's 3,451.
Full Data Breakdown
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Mobility (Chetty) 4 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
Research (Times HE) 4 metrics
Online Education (IPEDS) 2 metrics
The Overviews
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
A full data profile for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — outcomes, cost, and admissions — is on its profile page.
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofit
With an acceptance rate of just 11%, Tufts University attracts students who are ready to engage in a vibrant academic community. This school is ideal for those passionate about social sciences, engineering, biology and biomedical fields, computer science and IT, or the visual and performing arts. What stands out is the commitment to a well-rounded education that encourages exploration and interdisciplinary study, making it a great fit for curious minds eager to make an impact.
After graduation, students can expect a solid earning potential, with a 10-year median salary of $83,214. This figure highlights the strong return on investment for graduates. With a graduation rate of 93%, it's clear that students not only thrive academically but also transition successfully into their careers. While the Pell Grant rate is at 12%, indicating that a smaller percentage of students come from low-income backgrounds, those who do tend to find pathways to upward mobility in their professional lives.
Looking at the practical side, the net price of attending Tufts is around $39,998 after aid, which is significant but manageable for many. Graduates carry a median debt of $16,250, a figure that suggests a thoughtful balance between investment in education and financial responsibility. Students who tend to thrive here are those who are driven, engaged, and ready to take advantage of the diverse opportunities available on campus and beyond.
Rankings They Appear On
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Tufts University appear together in 2 rankings. On the Highest-Paying Online Bachelor's Programs, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences ranks #3 — Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences outranks Tufts University by 35 positions.
Top Degree Programs
Massachusetts Pharmacy's top program is Nursing (BSN) (93% of enrollment), while Tufts leads with Sociology (20%).
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Massachusetts Pharmacy) and Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Tufts).
The two schools feed different job markets. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is strongest in Health Professions, Psychology, Physical Sciences, while Tufts University concentrates in Social Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science & IT. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Tufts University?
Tufts University is harder to get into, admitting 11% of applicants compared with 85% at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Which is more affordable, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Tufts University?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is more affordable, with an average net price of $39,545 after aid versus $39,998 at Tufts University.
Do Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Tufts University graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more: median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, versus $83,214 at Tufts University.
Which has a better graduation rate, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Tufts University?
Tufts University has the higher graduation rate, 93% versus 63%.
Should you choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Tufts University?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Tufts University if you want the more selective, higher-stats peer group. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
More Comparisons
View all →Weigh Your Options
Best Colleges in America
How do Massachusetts Pharmacy and Tufts stack up against regional and national alternatives when evaluated on pure socioeconomic mobility, graduate earnings, and long-term return on investment? Explore the full, verified dataset on our comprehensive rankings directory.