Tufts University 2025 Admission Statistics

Tufts University Admission Guide — Class of 2030 (Applying 2025‑26)

“We seek students who care about ideas and people—intellectually playful, civically engaged, and ready to ask the next question.” — Tufts admissions dean, April 2025

Why read this?

You’re a high‑school junior aiming to apply in the 2025‑26 cycle.
Tufts’ freshly released 2024‑25 Common Data Set reveals new acceptance rates, GPA bands, testing ranges, and costs. Instead of sifting through spreadsheets, use this narrative cheat‑sheet—no tables, no fluff—to benchmark your profile, hit every deadline, and craft an application that feels unmistakably Jumbo.

The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English

• 34,330 applications → 3,957 offers → overall admit rate ≈ 11.5 %.
• Early Decision bump. ED I (Nov 1) + ED II (Jan 4) combined admitted just over 25 % of the class with an admit rate roughly twice Regular Decision.
• 1,801 freshmen enrolled, driving a 45 % yield—Tufts monitors demonstrated interest.
• Wait‑list reality. Nearly a thousand accept WL spots; just a few hundred receive an offer—treat WL as unlikely.
• Persistence. First‑year retention 95 %; six‑year graduation 94 %—Tufts students stick and finish.

Academic Profile of the 2024‑25 Admitted Class

• Testing optional—but stellar if submitted.
  • SAT middle band 1 480–1 540; EBRW 720–770, Math 740–790.
  • ACT middle band 33–35.
  • Submit only if you clear 1 500 +/34 + territory.
• GPA gravity. Average un‑weighted GPA hovers near 3.9; 95 % of admits rank in the top decile.
• Course rigor reigns. AP/IB HL math, lab science, and a senior schedule that increases—not coasts—signal readiness.
• Holistic extras. Essays, recommendations, extracurricular impact, and demonstrated interest all sit in the “very important” bucket.

What Tufts Values (and How to Show It)

• Intellectual playfulness. Essays that connect disparate ideas—like microbiology and street art—mirror Tufts’ culture of curiosity.
• Active citizenship. Quantify impact: “registered 800 new teen voters,” “coded a food‑rescue app serving 12,000 meals.”
• Global perspective. Language study, Model UN leadership, or refugee tutoring align with Tufts’ international focus and Fletcher School ties.
• Interdisciplinary spark. Show plans to cross major boundaries—CS + International Relations, or Biomedical Engineering + Dance.
• Community kindness. Tufts looks for “nice nerds”—recommendations that praise generosity carry weight.

The Money Question

• Sticker 2025‑26: tuition ~ $72,000, fees $1,400, housing + meals $18,500 → ≈ $92,000 all‑in.
• Need‑blind for U.S. applicants and meets 100 % of demonstrated need; loans kept below $7,000 total.
• Average first‑year grant package: $60,000+; more than two‑thirds of undergrads receive aid.
• Merit money? Only the prestigious Trustee Scholarship (full cost, <20 awards) and Artistic Merit grants—focus on need‑based aid.
• Aid deadlines: CSS Profile + FAFSA by Feb  15  2026 (or with ED file).
• Net Price Calculator. Run it early—especially if you’re middle‑income OOS.

Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030

Spring  2025

• Load senior schedule with AP Calc, AP/IB science, a language capstone, and a writing‑intensive course.
• Register for August SAT/ACT only if trending ≥ 1500/34.

Summer  2025

• Draft the Common App essay and Tufts’ two 250‑word prompts (“Why Tufts?” + quirky short‑response).
• Deepen a signature project—research paper, social venture, or studio album—and gather metrics.

Early Fall  2025

• Tour Medford/Somerville or join a virtual Jumbo Days session—log interest.
• Nov  1  2025 — ED  I deadline; submit testing and aid forms if you want an early package.

Winter  2026

• Jan  4  2026 — ED  II + Regular Decision deadline; final test scores due Jan  15.
• ED  I decisions mid‑December; ED  II in mid‑February.

Spring  2026

• RD decisions April  1  2026; Bo Jackson statue photo op for admits.
• May  1  2026 — Enrollment deposit + housing form due.

Life on the Hill

• 10 : 1 student‑faculty ratio; most upper‑division classes under 20 students.
• Residential colleges. Two‑year on‑campus requirement—Carm, Houston, or language/theme houses for upperclass options.
• Traditions. “Painting the cannon,” midnight snowball fights on President’s Lawn, and Spring Fling concerts overlooking Boston skyline.
• Boston advantage. 15‑minute Red Line ride to internships at MIT labs, State House policy teams, or Fenway biotech hubs.
• Global campus. Talloires (France) summer institute, 45+ study‑abroad sites, and civic‑engagement fellowships across six continents.

How to Decide If Tufts Fits

1. Do you thrive on open‑ended questions and lively seminar banter?
2. Will cross‑disciplinary freedom (SMFA art studios, Tisch College civic grants) accelerate your goals?
3. Can you seize Boston’s research, startup, and cultural ecosystems without big‑city chaos?
4. Does full‑need aid (but minimal merit) align with your budget?

If you tick “yes” at least three times, Tufts merits serious ED or RD consideration.

Quick‑Hit Checklist

• [ ] Maintain 3.9 + GPA with max rigor.
• [ ] Submit SAT ≥  1500 or ACT ≥  4 only if strong.
• [ ] Finish one measurable impact project by September.
• [ ] Reference a Tufts hallmark (ExCollege, Cannon, Jumbos Lacrosse) in your supplement.
• [ ] Apply ED I Nov  1  2025 or ED II/RD Jan  4  2026.
• [ ] File CSS Profile + FAFSA by Feb  15  2026.
• [ ] Send thank‑you notes after your optional alumni interview.

Final Word

Tufts pairs liberal‑arts intimacy with R1 research oomph and a campus culture where kindness and curiosity coexist. Admission is fiercely selective but transparent: rigorous academics, a distinctive impact story, and essays that showcase intellectual playfulness and civic purpose. Nail those, respect the timeline, and you could soon be painting Jumbo blue on that iconic cannon.

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