Highly selectiveProfile current for 2025-2026

Tufts University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Tufts University, a private college in Massachusetts, reports a 11% acceptance rate and sits in the highly selective band. In practice that means it turns away most applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what Tufts University weighs, where it ranks among Massachusetts schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1530, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
11%
Highly selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1530
of admitted students
Type
Private
Massachusetts
Selectivity in state
#7
of 36 in MA
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Will I get into Tufts University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Tufts University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Tufts University?

Your odds at Tufts University are not the same as its 11% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Tufts University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Tufts University hard to get into?

Tufts University is highly selective: it turns away most applicants, with about a 11% acceptance rate. Strong academics are expected here, so the rest of your profile usually decides the outcome.

What GPA do you need to get into Tufts University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Tufts University, but most admitted students present roughly a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA with a rigorous course load. Tufts University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts University?

Tufts University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1530. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Tufts University.

Calculate your chances at Tufts University

What Tufts University looks for

What Tufts University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Tufts University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. At this level of selectivity, the difference between admits is rarely the transcript alone; essays, recommendations, and a coherent story matter. These ratings come from Tufts University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Considered
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Very important
Talent / ability
Very important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Very important

SAT score positioning at Tufts University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Tufts University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500In the competitive admitted range
1400Well below the admitted range
1300Well below the admitted range
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1550 SAT →Colleges for a 35 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Tufts University compares in Massachusetts

Tufts University ranks #7 most selective of 36 schools in Massachusetts in our database.

Among the 36 Massachusetts schools we track, Tufts University ranks #7 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Harvard University (4%) and Northeastern University (5%) sit nearby, which makes Massachusetts a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Harvard University
4%acceptance · MA
Northeastern University
5%acceptance · MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5%acceptance · MA
Williams College
8%acceptance · MA
Amherst College
9%acceptance · MA
Boston University
11%acceptance · MA
Wellesley College
14%acceptance · MA
Boston College
16%acceptance · MA
See all Massachusetts schools →

Similar to Tufts University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Tufts University often weigh Boston University, University of Notre Dame, and Emory University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Boston University
11%acceptance · MA
University of Notre Dame
11%acceptance · IN
Emory University
11%acceptance · GA
Middlebury College
11%acceptance · VT
University of Southern California
10%acceptance · CA
Carnegie Mellon University
12%acceptance · PA

Frequently asked questions

What does Tufts University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Tufts University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Tufts University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Tufts University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Tufts University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Tufts University specifically.

Is Tufts University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Tufts University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1530; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.