What is Tufts University Known For?
Tufts University is a mid-sized private research university with a picturesque campus just outside Boston. The school consistently ranks among the top 30 universities in the country and is perhaps best known for the admissions practice of waitlisting or rejecting exceptionally strong applicants if it believes those students are likely to enroll at more prestigious institutions—a practice informally known as “Tufts Syndrome.” Keep reading to learn about Tufts admissions, academics, social life, and other traditions, as well as how to improve your chances of getting into this distinguished university. Location: Medford, MA Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,126 Acceptance Rate: 11% Middle 50% SAT: 1480-1540 Middle 50% ACT: 33-35 As mentioned above, Tufts is often cited for allegedly practicing “yield protection,” commonly referred to as “Tufts Syndrome.” This occurs when schools reject or waitlist highly qualified applicants who are considered unlikely to enroll. Colleges strive for high yield rates—the percentage of admitted students who choose to attend—as these numbers signal desirability and may help boost institutional rankings. So how do you avoid falling prey to Tufts Syndrome? Tufts emphasizes admissions essays and looks for responses that demonstrate both writing caliber and creativity. You will want to pay extra attention to the “Why Tufts?” essay to ensure that your interest in the school comes across as genuine. Tufts University has three distinct undergraduate colleges: Students can double major across colleges. Tufts offers over 150 majors and minors, with popular majors including Computer Science, International Relations, Economics, Biology, and Psychology. One notable program is the Tufts Civic Semester, where first-semester freshmen in the School of Arts and Sciences start their Tufts journey abroad. Students participate in service-learning and program costs are covered by tuition and financial aid. The two programs are offered in Peru and Thailand. The university hosts many of its own study abroad programs. Most notable are the ten Tufts-specific study abroad programs offered in: Additionally, Tufts has summer programs in France, Italy, and Spain. Between 40% and 45% of Tufts undergraduates participate in study abroad annually. In terms of post-grad outcomes, many Tufts students go on to win prestigious awards and complete fellowships. During the 2024-2025 academic year, 13 Tufts students were named Fulbright scholars. 94% of the Class of 2024 were employed or planning on attending graduate school within six months of graduation. Tufts has over 350 student-run organizations and Greek organizations. The most popular student clubs include the fencing team, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, and Quidditch. The university has an active student government and many student-run publications, including theTufts Observer, which was established in 1895 and consistently ranks among the nation’s best college newspapers. In terms of sports, Tufts is part of NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) and has 28 men’s and women’s sports teams. Tufts has many traditions that students participate in throughout the year. Below is a list of the most popular traditions. The Cannon: There is a large cannon on Tufts’ campus that is a replica of a cannon from the USS Constitution. Students will paint the cannon for special events, but only at night. Tuftonia’s Day: Tuftonia’s Day is an annual celebration to mark the end of the spring semester. The entire campus is transformed into a carnival with games, rides, and food. Pumpkining: On Halloween, students will find pumpkins all over the Tufts campus. The tradition has been around for over 74 years and no group ever takes responsibility for the prank. Illumination Ceremony: First-year students light candles in honor of Charles Tufts on the first night of classes. Then, the night before graduation, students participate in the ceremony for the last time. Spring Fling: Spring Fling is an outdoor concert event that occurs before final exams. Many famous musical artists have performed, such as Childish Gambino, Kesha, and Flo Rida. Dorms at Tufts are divided based on year at the university. All first and second-year students are guaranteed on-campus housing and required to live on campus. There are 11 first-year residence halls, mostly doubles and triples, with a few singles. Juniors and seniors typically live off-campus. Tufts is known for its special interest housing. It’s home to 16 different units arranged by cultural and academic interests like Chinese House, Arts Special Interest Unit, and French Language House. [amp-cta id="9459"] Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need for students. 44% of students at Tufts receive financial aid, and the average need-based aid awarded is $55,000. Students with annual family incomes below $60,000 generally receive financial aid packages that don’t include student loans. Tufts rarely offers merit-based scholarships. However, National Merit Scholars receive up to $500 per semester for eight semesters while at Tufts. The university also provides ROTC scholarships through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Tufts has many impressive resources on its campus. The Aidekman Arts Center, located on Tufts’ campus, has many rotating art collections, and famous artists such as Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, and Auguste Rodin have permanent collections on campus. The Edward Glinn library has original collections of United Nations and League of Nations documents, as well as several famous international treaties. Tufts students often frequent Davis Square, a neighborhood very close to campus that has restaurants and shopping. Students can easily access Davis Square through the subway system. Tufts students can access the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for free. Students can also become members of the Tufts Mountain Club, a group that owns a mountain retreat in New Hampshire and participates in outdoor adventures across the Northeast. Tufts is located on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. The campus is only about five miles from the center of Boston, and you can get from Tufts to the city center in about 30 minutes on the subway (known as “the T”). Students love the location of Tufts due to its proximity to Boston, and on weekends, students will often explore different areas of the city. Tufts University is extremely selective, with an acceptance rate of 11%. While having strong academics is crucial to getting into a top school like Tufts, admissions officers also look beyond test scores and GPA for leadership potential, diverse interests, and intellectual engagement. Are you curious to discover your chances of getting into Tufts University? Check out our free chancing calculator, which will tell you your chances of admission and what you can do to strengthen your application. Using the chancing calculator, you can identify schools that are a good fit and narrow your options by size, location, and major. It also helps you prepare stronger application materials for each college and build a cohesive, well-balanced list. What’s Covered:
Overview of Tufts Admissions
Unique Aspects of Tufts University
Academics
Extracurriculars
Traditions
Dorms
Financial Aid
Resources
Location
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at Tufts University?
