At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
Tufts University is a prestigious private research university near Boston known for its Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the oldest graduate school of international affairs in the United States. Its emphasis on civic engagement, interdisciplinary study, and global perspectives gives it a distinctive identity among research universities of its size.
Mascot: Jumbo
Notable Alumni
Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)•Tracy Chapman (Grammy-winning singer-songwriter)•Hank Azaria (voice actor, The Simpsons)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Athletics
Campus Experience
Tufts attracts globally-minded, ambitious students who compete to be the most interesting person in the room rather than the highest scorer on the exam. About 18% go Greek — present but not defining. The real currency is your side projects, activism, and proximity to Boston. Academically rigorous with waves of intensity, but the culture is collaborative, not cutthroat.
Hilltop campus with sweeping views of Boston, featuring a mix of handsome brick and brownstone buildings set among mature trees and sloping lawns.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Crime on campus is rare, with one of the only fully authorized campus police departments in Massachusetts, staffed by 58 members emphasizing community policing.
Medford and Somerville are safe, walkable suburban communities just five miles from Boston with low crime rates.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Multiple daily sessions, Mon-Fri year-round plus select Saturdays
Duration: ~75 minutes (presentation + outdoor walking tour)
Check in at 7th floor lobby of Dowling Hall, 419 Boston Ave, Medford. Arrive 15-20 min early. Walk-ins without appointments can only do the self-guided audio tour. Book weeks ahead for April and October peak seasons.
Book a TourSelf-guided audio tour recorded by multiple current students, available via IZI Travel app. No pre-registration needed — stop by reception desk at Bendetson Hall (2 The Green). Downloadable map available for exploring campus at your own pace outside office hours.
Tour ResourcesMid-September through October or mid-April through May when classes are in full swing and the campus is most alive. Avoid exam periods (mid-December, early May) and winter break. Choose the second tour timeslot of the day so students are up and about.
Park in the Dowling Hall Garage (419 Boston Ave, Medford) — $2.50/hr, $20/day max, payable at kiosks or online. Overflow at Cousens Lot (161 College Ave), a 6-min walk. By transit: Green Line E branch to Medford/Tufts stop, Dowling Hall is directly across the street. Nearest airport: Boston Logan (BOS), ~20 min by car or Blue Line + Green Line transfer.
Location
Similar Colleges
Find the right college for you
Explore 161 colleges by degree, filter by acceptance rate, SAT range, and more.
Explore Colleges