Tufts University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Tufts University is a private institution located in Medford, Massachusetts and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Tufts University admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 11%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1500 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $39,998 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Tufts University?

Most admitted students at Tufts University present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.

What does Tufts University weight in admissions?

Tufts University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Tufts University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 750–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 735. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Tufts University actually cost?

Published tuition is $70,704 for in-state students and $70,704 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,588 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $39,998 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 12% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Tufts University

Will my child graduate from Tufts University?

These predict outcomes at Tufts University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Tufts University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Tufts University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Computer Science and Biology, General. Across all programs, Tufts University confers roughly 938 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $126,124 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Tufts University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Tufts University disclosed 43 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 8 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Tufts University?

About 60% of undergraduates at Tufts University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 12% of men join a fraternity and 15% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about

• University of Massachusetts-Amherst
  60% acceptance
• University of Massachusetts-Boston
  84% acceptance
• Northeastern University
  5% acceptance
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  60% acceptance
• Brandeis University
  41% acceptance
• Williams College
  8% acceptance
• Amherst College
  9% acceptance
• Wellesley College
  14% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Tufts University