Tufts University's Acceptance Results for the Class of 2029

Tufts University has completed the admissions cycle for the Class of 2029, and the admissions landscape continues to be highly competitive.

Tufts reported an overall acceptance rate of 10.5% across 33,400 total applicants. This makes Tufts' overall acceptance rate a half of a percentage point higher than last year.

Here's a detailed breakdown and additional insights to help prospective applicants understand the school's admission landscape.

Key Trends and Insights

• Tufts has not released ED1 or ED2 acceptance rate data for the past six admissions cycles, preventing a full assessment of the school's level of selectivity.
• This year's acceptance rate increased only slightly, compared to last year.
• The total number of applicants decreased this year, down to 33,400 applicants, compared to 34,400 last year.
• Applications to the School of Engineering hit a record high, according to Tufts officials.

Broader Admissions Trends:

• Steady Overall Acceptance Rate: the acceptance has consistently hovered around 10%, over the past four years, since the school adopted test-optional admissions
• A Shift in Overall Interest? The number of applicants dropped abruptly this year compared to the last three years, reflected in this year's slightly higher acceptance rate — does the drop also signal declining interest in the school overall, even as interest in the school's engineering programs reaches all-time highs?
• Test-Optional Admissions: Tuft's is now in year five of a six-year pilot of its test-optional admissions policy, making it important to monitor for potential test policy changes in the near future.
• Pandemic-Era Spike in Applications: Since going test optional five years ago, Tufts has seen a sharp overall increase in application numbers, despite a slight reversal downward this year.

• The number of applicants to Tufts increased dramatically for the Class of 2025, compared to the prior year.
• The number of applicants also rose significantly again the following year (Class of 2026), before the trend levelled off.
• This year the number of applications decreased, dropping about 3% compared to last year.

Early Decision Admissions Results

Tufts offers Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2 application rounds, but school leaders have not reported ED admission data for over six years. Tufts officials say applying ED does not make it easier to get into Tufts, but do acknowledge that applying Regular Decision could make it harder to get admitted.

Tufts overall admissions rate is very competitive. This means the Regular Decision rate is likely to be even more competitive.

Although applicants don't have much insight into the ED acceptance rates at Tufts, it's reasonable to wager that ED applicants may get some advantages — from demonstrating high interest and by competing within a smaller pool of applicants.

Navigating Low Acceptance Rates

Tufts’ Class of 2029 admissions results reveal an exceptional level of selectivity for any school, especially for non-Ivy League institutions.

And, while Tufts is test optional, 65% of students submitted either SAT or ACT scores, according to admissions results.

To get an edge for admissions at Tufts or other highly selective universities and colleges, presenting a well-rounded profile is paramount:

• Academics: a strong record of academic performance demonstrated with rigorous coursework and strong SAT or ACT scores can highlight your readiness to thrive in a rigorous college learning environment
• Extracurriculars: extracurricular roles — that build professional skills or leadership qualities, that foster personal growth or demonstrate commitments to community service — are also essential attributes among top applicants.
• College Essays: Finally, applicants can also make a stronger impression by taking care to present well-crafted admissions essays that spotlight the authentic goals, values, and motivations that drive them to excel while highlighting why Tufts is a good fit for them personally, academically, and intellectually.

Final Thoughts

Congratulations to the students admitted to Tufts' Class of 2029 — your achievement reflects remarkable dedication.

For students aspiring to get into Tufts, strategic preparation is essential to achieving your goal.

Crimson Education specializes in helping ambitious students navigate this challenging process, offering them tailored guidance so they can build compelling applications that reflect their authentic strengths and passions.

If you're a student or parent interested in Tufts or other top universities, speak with one of Crimson Education’s admissions advisors today and start charting your path to success.