Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts, United States · Official source information verified 2026-09-26.
How to evaluate Tufts University
Tufts' undergraduate academics information is useful for selecting a major, but the cited cost example is for a typical first-year full-time student at Medford/Somerville. It should not be extended to the SMFA campus or a graduate programme without checking their separate billing rules.
Understanding the published tuition & billing basis
The 2026/27 USD 74,862 academic-year tuition line is one component of the estimate. Housing, food, mandatory fees and insurance can add to the billed or budgeted amount. Tufts' student account calculator and an individual aid offer are more useful for a net bill than treating gross tuition as the amount a family must pay.
What to check before submitting your application
Confirm the intended school and campus, check degree entry requirements and the relevant bill estimate, then compare like costs across offers. A published tuition line alone cannot establish financial-aid eligibility or what an international applicant will ultimately owe.
Scholarships, financial aid and applicant status
Tufts has a separate international student aid process: applicants may use the ISFAA, with admitted international students asked to submit the CSS Profile according to Tufts’ instructions. An aid application and later award should be considered alongside the campus-specific bill estimate; no generic percentage can be subtracted from the Medford/Somerville tuition line.
Academic structure, faculties and degree selection
Tufts University in Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts admits undergraduates into three distinct schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts (SMFA, located in Boston's Fenway district for BFA and five-year combined-degree students). Each school maintains its own curriculum structure, distribution or foundation requirements, and application supplement—for example, Engineering applicants must demonstrate strong calculus and physics preparation, while SMFA applicants must submit a visual art portfolio.
Editorial source review: 2026-10-12. Official university programme and fee links are provided below.
Published study costs & complete budget breakdown
Published tuition scope: Typical first-year full-time undergraduate tuition at Medford/Somerville campus USD 74,862 per academic year; housing, food, mandatory fees and insurance extra · 2026/27
How tuition, mandatory campus fees and city living costs work together
For 2026/27, Tufts lists a typical first-year full-time undergraduate tuition of USD 74,862 for the academic year at the Medford/Somerville campus. That figure is strictly the tuition component; Tufts' Student Financial Services bill estimate separately itemizes mandatory activity, health and wellness, and residential fees, on-campus housing and dining plans (required for first- and second-year undergraduates), and mandatory Massachusetts-compliant student health insurance. For international financial aid, Tufts is need-aware in undergraduate admissions: international applicants who need financial support must indicate this on their application and submit the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) by the admission deadline, with admitted students subsequently completing the CSS Profile.
| Budget Category | How It Works at Tufts University | Where to Verify Official Figures |
|---|---|---|
| International Tuition (Tufts University) | Typical first-year full-time undergraduate tuition at Medford/Somerville campus USD 74,862 per academic year; housing, food, mandatory fees and insurance extra · 2026/27 | Official tuition schedule ↗ |
| Mandatory Campus, Union & Health Fees | Mandatory student activity, health and wellness, residential, and lab/studio fees (including SMFA Boston studio fees), plus Massachusetts-compliant student health insurance. | Official fee breakdown ↗ |
| Medford, Massachusetts Housing & Visa Maintenance | Mandatory first- and second-year on-campus residence halls and Tufts Dining plans on the Medford/Somerville campus. | University cost of living guide ↗ |
Step-by-step pre-application checklist for Tufts University
- Combine the USD 74,862 (2026/27) Medford/Somerville tuition line with mandatory activity/health fees, campus housing, dining, and Massachusetts health insurance.
- If applying to the SMFA BFA or five-year combined degree, check the separate SMFA billing structure and portfolio submission requirements.
- Indicate whether you are applying for need-based aid on your Common or Coalition application, as Tufts is need-aware for international citizens and does not grant aid later if you apply without it.
- Submit the ISFAA by the Early Decision (November) or Regular Decision (January) financial-aid deadline if requesting institutional aid.
- Use Tufts' official international cost-of-attendance worksheet to prepare accurate financial documentation for your F-1 Form I-20.
Cost source checked 2026-09-26. Always match the fee schedule to your exact degree level, citizenship/fee status, credit load and entry year.
How to use Tufts University’s official degree catalogue
This guide explains Tufts University’s billing structure, credit system, and admission rules at the university level. Because entry prerequisites and module lists vary by department, open the official degree catalogue below to check your exact major or master’s track.
Scholarships, tuition waivers & financial aid
Funding rules at Tufts University depend on your degree level, nationality, and whether awards are automatic merit discounts or need-assessed packages. Review the financial-aid deadlines and required forms (such as CSS Profile or ISFAA) noted above before applying.
Frequently asked questions about Tufts University
Can an international student request financial aid after enrolling at Tufts if they applied without aid?
No. Tufts is need-aware for international undergraduate admission; if you do not request financial aid on your initial admission application, you cannot apply for institutional need-based aid in later years.
Which financial-aid form do international applicants submit to Tufts University?
International applicants first submit the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) by the admission deadline, and admitted students are then asked to complete the CSS Profile.
What is excluded from Tufts’ USD 74,862 (2026/27) typical undergraduate tuition figure?
Mandatory university fees, Medford/Somerville campus housing, dining plans, books, and mandatory Massachusetts student health insurance are billed on top of the USD 74,862 tuition line.
Compare related reviewed university & visa guides
Compare Tufts University against other reviewed university profiles and immigration guides on ScholarPath:
- Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire, United States)
- Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee, United States)
- University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida, United States)
- Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona, United States)
- University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder, Colorado, United States)
Official sources and next step
Choose the exact programme in the university directory and check its eligibility and fee schedule. For immigration planning, use the destination government’s current instructions.