Tulane University vs. University of Miami

Tulane is the harder admit. It takes about 14.5% of applicants, roughly 4,763 of nearly 33,000, while Miami sits at about 17.6%, admitting around 10,245 of more than 58,000. The score profiles line up the same way: Tulane's enrolled first-years posted a middle-50% SAT of 1430–1500 and ACT of 32–34, ahead of Miami's 1350–1450 and 30–33. Both schools run a binding Early Decision plan alongside a non-binding Early Action option.

Miami dwarfs Tulane on size, enrolling about 13,241 undergraduates next to Tulane's 6,839, close to double. Retention matches at a 93% clip for both, and each keeps most students on campus, though Tulane houses a larger share, about 97% against Miami's 88%. Geography splits them most: roughly 85% of Tulane's first-years come from outside Louisiana, while about 63% of Miami's come from outside Florida.

On paper Miami meets more need, covering 100% of demonstrated financial need on average versus about 94% at Tulane, and a slightly larger slice of first-years get need-based aid (about 37% to 33%). Tulane's average need-based package runs larger in raw dollars, near $70,044 against Miami's roughly $64,221, in part because its sticker climbs higher: tuition and fees of about $71,998 at Tulane next to $65,430 at Miami. Your actual cost after aid hinges on your need profile, and higher-need families tend to lean toward Miami's full-need policy.

The two schools route health students differently. Tulane sends pre-health undergrads toward its School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, though at the undergraduate level the biological sciences (about 9% of degrees) and health professions (about 6%) land as mid-sized fields. Miami's conferring skews more toward health: the health professions rank as its second-largest area at about 12% of bachelor's degrees, with biological sciences at about 10%. Students drawn to a public-health route tend toward Tulane, while a bigger undergraduate health-professions cohort points to Miami.

Tulane carries far more Greek life. About 32% of its men pledge a fraternity and 53% of its women a sorority, which puts Greek organizations at the center of campus social life. At Miami the presence runs much lighter, with roughly 11% of men and 14% of women in fraternities and sororities. A strong Greek scene clearly favors Tulane.

Their testing policies aren't the same. Tulane stays test-optional, so you can apply without scores; among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% landed at 1430–1500 on the SAT and 32–34 on the ACT. Miami went test-optional for its most recent class, where submitters scored 1350–1450 on the SAT and 30–33 on the ACT, but it brings back a required SAT or ACT starting with Fall 2027 applicants.