Tufts University
Location: Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts
Established: 1852
Enrollment: ~6,800 (Undergraduate)
Admit Rate: 10% (Class of 2028)
Yield Rate: 50%
Endowment: $2.4 Billion
Academic Calendar: Semester
School Colors: Tufts Blue and Brown, #3E8EDE
School Mascot: Jumbo (an Elephant)
Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: $69,726 USD (2024–25 Tuition)
Typical SAT Scores: Reading and Writing 720–770, Math 750–790
Motto: Pax et Lux (Peace and Light)
Notable: Classified as a Research I university despite its liberal arts feel; famous for the Experimental College (ExCollege).
1. Quick Facts Snapshot
• Location: Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts
• Founded: 1852
• Enrollment: ~6,800 (Undergraduate)
• Admit rate: 10% (Class of 2028)
• Yield rate: ~45%
• Endowment: $2.4 Billion
2. Why This School Fits the Little Ivy Profile
• Tufts is right on the line between a "Little Ivy" and a major research university. It fits this description because its undergraduate experience focuses on the School of Arts and Sciences. This combination offers the close-knit feel of a college along with the resources of a global university.
3. Selectivity & Admissions
• Approx admit rate: 10%
• Selectivity trend: Highly selective; often cross-shopped with Penn, Georgetown, and Brown.
• SAT/ACT ranges: SAT 1460–1540
4. Academic Strengths
• Signature programs: International Relations (Fletcher School connection); Computer Science; Civic Life.
• Faculty ratio: 10:1
• Key differentiator: The Experimental College (ExCollege). A program where students, alumni, and community members teach credit-bearing courses on niche, quirky, or cutting-edge topics.
5. Outcomes
• Salary or placement overview: High earners in tech and international affairs.
• Alumni influence: Massive in diplomacy, media, and medicine.
• Where grads typically go: Foreign Service, Google/Tech hubs, and Boston medical centers.
6. Campus Culture
• Traditions: Painting the Cannon. A replica cannon on campus is painted almost nightly by student groups to advertise events or make statements.
• Social environment: "Active Citizenship" is the vibe; students are politically engaged, nice, and collaborative.
• Notable athletics or arts strengths: NESCAC sports but arguably less dominant than Williams; very strong a cappella scene (the Beelzebubs).
7. How It Compares
• [Tufts vs. Brown: The quirky elites]
• [Tufts vs. Georgetown: International Relations Heavyweights]
8. FAQs
• Is it in Boston?
It is on a hill overlooking Boston; the subway (T) takes you downtown in 20 minutes.
• Can undergrads take Fletcher classes?
Yes, students can often cross-register or interact with the graduate school of diplomacy.
• What is a Jumbo?
The mascot is an elephant, P.T. Barnum's famous Jumbo, whose stuffed hide was once in a campus building (until it burned down).