REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Tufts University
Tufts University, founded in 1947, is a lively institution that blends a strong liberal arts tradition with robust research resources to guide students from across the world towards “Pax et Lux,” or “peace and light.” The educational philosophy of shaping students to inspire and enlighten the world has been foundational to Tufts—the college’s first president proclaimed Tufts “to be a source of illumination, as a beacon standing on a hill, where its light cannot be hidden, its influence will naturally work like all light; it will be diffusive.” Today, through its 6,600 undergraduate students and 5,800 graduate students across its Medford/Somerville, Boston, and Grafton, Massachusetts campuses, Tufts has upheld that commitment. With 90+ academic offerings, ample research opportunities and a strong study abroad culture that roughly 45% of students participate in, Tufts teems with opportunities for daring students to discover and explore both themselves and the world around them.
REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Tufts University
Tufts University, founded in 1947, is a lively institution that blends a strong liberal arts tradition with robust research resources to guide students from across the world towards “Pax et Lux,” or “peace and light.” The educational philosophy of shaping students to inspire and enlighten the world has been foundational to Tufts—the college’s first president proclaimed Tufts “to be a source of illumination, as a beacon standing on a hill, where its light cannot be hidden, its influence will naturally work like all light; it will be diffusive.” Today, through its 6,600 undergraduate students and 5,800 graduate students across its Medford/Somerville, Boston, and Grafton, Massachusetts campuses, Tufts has upheld that commitment. With 90+ academic offerings, ample research opportunities and a strong study abroad culture that roughly 45% of students participate in, Tufts teems with opportunities for daring students to discover and explore both themselves and the world around them.
REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Tufts University
Tufts University, founded in 1947, is a lively institution that blends a strong liberal arts tradition with robust research resources to guide students from across the world towards “Pax et Lux,” or “peace and light.” The educational philosophy of shaping students to inspire and enlighten the world has been foundational to Tufts—the college’s first president proclaimed Tufts “to be a source of illumination, as a beacon standing on a hill, where its light cannot be hidden, its influence will naturally work like all light; it will be diffusive.” Today, through its 6,600 undergraduate students and 5,800 graduate students across its Medford/Somerville, Boston, and Grafton, Massachusetts campuses, Tufts has upheld that commitment. With 90+ academic offerings, ample research opportunities and a strong study abroad culture that roughly 45% of students participate in, Tufts teems with opportunities for daring students to discover and explore both themselves and the world around them.
School Location:
MEDFORD, MA
School Type:
PRIVATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
Admissions Rates:
ADMITTED: 10.13%
GENERAL INFO
SAT/ACT Scores:
Test Optional for 2024-2025
Admission Cycle
Class of 2027 Test Scores
Middle 50% SAT:
1470-1530
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
Dates/Deadlines:
Early Decision I (ED I):
November 1
Early Decision II (ED II):
January 4
Regular Decision:
January 4
School Information:
Undergraduate population:
6,662
Faculty Ratio:
10:1
Interviews Considered:
Yes
TUFTS TIPS & GUIDE
How difficult is it to get into Tufts?
Tufts is a highly selective university with an acceptance rate of 10% for the Class of 2027. The average SAT Composite (50th Percentile) score for admitted students was 1500 for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, while the ACT Composite (50th Percentile) score was 34. Additionally, 82% of first-year students graduated in the top 10% of their high school class and 98% graduated in the top half.
What is the campus like at Tufts?
Student life is very active at Tufts. There are over 300 clubs on campus, ranging from standard offerings such as club sports and service groups to clubs devoted to Quidditch and comedy. Greek life is popular on campus with about 18% of the student body belonging to one of Tufts’ five fraternities, four sororities, one co-ed independent fraternity, or four active culturally based Greek Organizations. However, Greek life doesn’t necessarily dominate the social scene. Tufts has a close-knit community that values campus traditions highly, such as cannon painting, candle-lighting, and placing pumpkins around campus in the fall. Tufts could be an ideal fit for high school students looking to attend college near a major metropolitan center. The university is close to Boston—the city is only a half-hour train ride away through MBTA public transit. Students make the occasional trip to Boston to enjoy museums and concerts, Red Sox games, and dining and shopping.
The institution has a tight-knit community of Jumbos, as 70% of Tufts students choose to live on campus. There are over 25 residence halls, some with special themes that allow students with like-minded interests to live together. Examples of current special-interest housing themes include language immersion, sustainability, cultural affinity, and the arts. All students who live on campus eat at one of two main dining centers, which offer a variety of cuisines, comfort food, and specialized catering for students with specific dietary needs. There are also several on-the-go options including marketplaces, cafes, and a kosher deli. Students who prefer to live off-campus will find apartments in Medford, Somerville, or Boston (typically in groups of 3-4) and can either opt into a meal plan or cook for themselves.
What is Tufts known for?
Jumbos are known for their eclectic approach towards life and humanistic pursuit of excellence. Famous alumni include four-time Emmy winner Hank Azaria, four-time Grammy winner Tracy Chapman, astronaut Rick Hauck, and figure skater Michelle Kwan. Tufts also has a strong presence in the world of business and entrepreneurship, as the president of Warner Brothers (Peter Roth), the creator of Wonder Woman (William Moulton Marston), and the founder and chairman of eBay (Pierre Omidyar) all walked the school’s halls. Tufts’ Medical, Dental, Engineering, and International Relations programs are also renowned. The institution as a whole encourages bold questions and students forging their own unique identities as intellectuals.
How diverse is Tufts?
Of the 6.877 degree seeking undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2023, 41.8% were white, 10% were Hispanic, 6.5% were Black/African American, 16.5% were Asian, 7.8% were two or more races. 12.2% were international, 0.3% were Native/Indigenous American and 4.9% were ethnicity unknown. Tufts’ undergraduate student body hails from 49 states and over 90 countries and about 50% of students identify as students of colors. Furthermore, roughly 12% of Tufts students are first-generation college students.
Does Tufts have a good athletic department?
Tufts is a NCAA Division III and NESCAC school that competes in 28 varsity sports. In addition to 28 club sports, the school also offers a variety of intramural athletics for students to try. Jumbos recently won the Learfield Directors’ Cup for the most successful DIII out of over 400 other schools for the 2021-2022 school year, demonstrating the strength of the program. Men’s lacrosse, Women’s Track and Field, and Men’s Swimming and Diving are three of the standout teams in the program.
Can I afford Tufts?
The estimated total cost of attending Tufts amounts to $92,088 per year. Like most private universities, this is a steep price tag. Tufts is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated student financial need, regardless of citizenship status.
If you are interested in applying for aid, here’s a link to deadlines for applying that you’ll want to keep in mind.
How do I apply to Tufts?
The Early Decision deadline is November 1, while the Early Decision II and Regular Decision deadlines are on January 4.
You can submit to Tufts through either the Common Application or the Coalition Application.
You’ll need to submit all of the items from the following list in order to apply:
- 2 letters of recommendation:
- One from a teacher you had in junior or senior year in a major academic course (math, natural science, social science, English or a foreign language)
- One from a school counselor
- A letter from an art teacher if you are applying to an arts program
- A summary of extracurricular activities
- Tufts Short-Answer Questions
- High school transcript(s)
- Senior Grades
- If applying Early Decision I, send first quarter or trimester grades no later than the last week of November
- If applying Early Decision II, send first semester or trimester grades no later than the third week in January
- If applying Regular Decision, send first semester or trimester grades by the middle of February
- If applying from abroad, send predicted grades
- TOEFL scores if English is not your first language or if English is not the language in which you receive instruction at school.
- Art Portfolio: If you are applying for a BFA or a Combined Degree BFA+BA/BS program. Your portfolio should include 15-20 pieces of your recent work.
- $75 Application Fee or Fee Waiver
Optional- Standardized Testing: students can choose whether or not to send their ACT/SAT scores (SAT Subject Tests, the SAT Essay, or the writing section of the ACT will not considered in the application process)
- Arts or Maker Portfolio: If you are applying to the Schools of Arts and Science or the School of Engineering, you may submit an Art or Maker Portfolio to showcase your talents in studio art, dance, drama or engineering to SlideRoom.
- Alumni Interview
What are Tufts’ core curriculum and programs?
Tufts offers traditional Bachelors of Arts (BA) and Bachelors of Science (BS) degrees. In addition, Tufts offers Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Art degrees, as well as a 5-year combined BFA + BA/BS program. Students can choose from nearly 150 majors and minors. A third of Tufts students declare a double major, and almost half declare a minor. Tufts is known to have particularly strong international relations, economics, and computer science programs.
All students in the School of Arts and Science pursuing a liberal arts Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree must complete their Foundation and Distribution Requirements as follows:
Foundation Requirements
- Writing Requirements (2 semesters of college writing)
- Language/Culture Requirement in two parts
- Part 1: Demonstrate knowledge of a language other than English through the third semester at the college level
- Part 2: Advanced language courses OR study of an additional language OR study of a specific culture through courses taught in English.
- World Civilization: In-depth study of a non-Western civilization, or of the interaction of non-Western world and Western civilizations with equal attention given to both.
Distribution Requirements
- You’ll be required to complete the equivalent of 2 courses or 6 semester-hour units in the following five areas: humanities, arts, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematical sciences.
