FAQs

Transfer Applicants

Who would be considered a transfer applicant?
Does Tufts accept mid-year transfers?
When should I begin preparing my transfer application?
Which is more important in the transfer admissions process: my high school transcript or my current performance in college?
Are there certain classes I must take in order to be considered for transfer?
Do I need to send standardized test scores as a transfer student? As an international transfer applicant, do I need to send SAT and TOEFL scores?
Can I reapply to Tufts if I was not admitted as a first-year applicant?
If I previously applied to Tufts and want to re-apply, do I need to resend credentials?
If I am older than the traditional college-age applicant, should I apply as a transfer student?
Do I need to apply to a specific school or program at Tufts?
Who is admitted to Tufts as a transfer student?

How many credits must I complete at Tufts as a transfer student?
Will the credits I earned at another institution be accepted at Tufts?
Is housing available for transfer students at Tufts?
Is there an orientation for transfer students?
Are transfer students eligible for financial aid? What about international transfer students?
Do you require any documents from my high school?
Are information sessions available for transfer students?
What is the mailing address for the Admissions Office?
How can I connect with a student who transferred to Tufts?
Are interviews available for transfer students?
Can transfer students defer their admission?

Who would be considered a transfer applicant?

A transfer applicant is someone who has matriculated at another institution prior to applying to Tufts. To be a competitive applicant to Tufts, you must be in good academic and disciplinary standing, and typically have at least two semesters of academic work.

If you are an adult learner interested in the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering, have some college experience within the last five years, and are invested in earning your bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis, you should apply to the REAL (Resumed Education for Adult Learning) program. Unfortunately, the REAL program is not available for adult learners interested in the BFA or 5-year Combined Degree (BFA + BA/BS) program.

For students who will have not completed a full year of academic work by time of enrollment at Tufts, please call 617-627-3170 for additional information.

Does Tufts accept mid-year transfers?

No. All transfer students must matriculate in the fall semester.

When should I begin preparing my transfer application?

The application deadline for transfer admission is March 17, 2025 this year, so you should begin to prepare your transfer application as soon as you determine your desire to transfer. The application process requires your college and high school transcripts, a college official’s report, and an academic instructor evaluation, in addition to the Common Application for Transfer Admission and the Tufts short-answer questions. The application process involves several essays and short responses, so take the time to think about these questions and craft responses to help the Transfer Admission Committee get to know you and understand your desire to transfer.

Which is more important in the transfer admissions process: my high school transcript or my current performance in college?

Your academic profile is considered in the context of your personal history, your reasons for wanting to transfer to Tufts, and your specific passions, goals, talents, and interests. Your performance in high school and college, alongside standardized test scores if submitted, will be evaluated to see your potential for success at Tufts. If you have only completed one year of college coursework, we may need to put greater emphasis on your high school transcript. If your high school transcript is not as strong as you would like it to be, superior performance in one or two years of college coursework will help us see your full potential.

Are there certain classes I must take in order to be considered for transfer?

The answer is different for the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering.

For the School of Arts and Sciences, you do not need to take specific courses to be admitted for transfer. The Transfer Admission Committee will review your transcript to determine if you’re making successful progress toward the Tufts requirements of your intended major, the language requirement, and the foundation/distribution requirements. You can find more information about these requirements here.

For the School of Engineering, applicants for sophomore transfer need at least two semesters of calculus or higher level math and two semesters of calculus-based physics or chemistry at the time of matriculation. Applicants for junior transfer to the School of Engineering need two years of coursework at the time of matriculation that completes the introductory coursework for engineering, and must be making progress toward completing the foundation requirements for his or her intended major. Information regarding introductory and foundation courses can be found by degree on the Engineering Degree Sheet page on the School of Engineering website, and more information on graduation requirements for the School of Engineering can be found here.

Do I need to send standardized test scores as a transfer student? As an international transfer applicant, do I need to send SAT and TOEFL scores?

Tufts University is renewing its SAT and ACT test-optional admissions policy for all undergraduate applicants for a 3-year period, beginning with applicants who apply for the Fall 2024 semester. This extension of our current test-optional policy allows for first-year and transfer applicants to have a choice about whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for undergraduate admission to Tufts University.

All applicants whose primary language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency, unless a student has been enrolled in an English instruction institution for at least three years. Exams that can be submitted to prove proficiency are: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo. Students enrolled in ESOL classes during secondary school may be asked for proof of proficiency. Click here for additional information.

Can I reapply to Tufts if I was not admitted as a first-year applicant?

You may apply to Tufts as a transfer applicant if you enroll at another two- or four-year accredited institution.

If I previously applied to Tufts and want to re-apply, do I need to resend credentials?

Yes, you must submit all required documentation for transfer admission even if it was previously submitted.

If I am older than the traditional college-age applicant, should I apply as a transfer student?

If you are an adult learner (beyond traditional college-age), have some college experience within the last five years, and are interested in earning your Bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis, you should apply to the Resumed Education for Adult Learning (REAL) program.

Do I need to apply to a specific school or program at Tufts?

While we do not ask applicants to commit to a specific major when submitting the Common Application, we do ask that you indicate your intended school or degree program. Programs include the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at SMFA at Tufts, or 5-year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree program.

Who is admitted to Tufts as a transfer student?

Tufts admits transfer students who the Transfer Admission Committee identifies as potential contributors to the fabric of Tufts. We look for students who will be successful in their chosen discipline here, but also students who will engage in campus life. Though there is no minimum GPA cut off for a student to be eligible for admission as a transfer student at Tufts, the most successful transfer applications are those with a GPA above a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

How many credits must I complete at Tufts as a transfer student?

Students must complete a minimum of two years or 60 credits to obtain a degree from Tufts.

Will the credits I earned at another institution be accepted at Tufts?

Each individual academic department is responsible for awarding credit for courses from another institution. Typically, courses similar to those offered at Tufts will receive transfer credit, called a "credit-bearing course equivalent." Tufts employs a course credit system using semester hour units (SHUs), where each course is equal to 2, 3, 4, or 5 SHUs, and 120 SHUs are required to graduate. At time of acceptance you will be given an evaluation of how many credits you are likely to receive at Tufts. The transfer of credit is granted by the faculty once you have matriculated at Tufts. After you enroll at Tufts you will be able to submit an electronic request for transfer credit. For more information, visit the Registrar’s page on the Student Services website.

Is housing available for transfer students at Tufts?

Housing availability for transfer students is dependent on room availability on campus. Admitted transfer students will be notified if housing is not available. To learn more about housing at Tufts, please visit the Office of Residential Life and Learning website.

Is there an orientation for transfer students?

Yes! Orientation for incoming transfer students coincides with the first-year orientation programming beginning in late August. There will be sessions and events specific to transfer students to ease your transition to Tufts.

Are transfer students eligible for financial aid? What about international transfer students?

Tufts does offer need-based financial aid to its students. While the financial aid budget at Tufts is substantial, it is a finite resource that is available on a limited basis to transfer students. If you are admitted, we meet 100% of demonstrated need. In light of Tufts’ commitment to maintain an international community, the University makes available a small amount of funding for talented international students. Because of the limited financial aid funding available, Tufts can offer admission to only a very small number of international applicants a year. Visit the Financial Aid website for forms, deadlines and how to apply for financial aid.

Do you require any documents from my high school?

Yes. Your high school transcript is a required part of the transfer application. No other documentation from your high school in necessary.

Are information sessions available for transfer students?

Each winter, we offer several online Question and Answer Sessions specifically designed for prospective transfer students. To view dates for online events and register, click here.

What is the mailing address for the Admissions Office?

The mailing address is:
Tufts University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
2 The Green
Medford, MA 02155

How can I connect with a student who transferred to Tufts?

There are several ways to connect with a transfer student or hear about their experiences. If you are interested in talking to a transfer student via email, send an email to transfer.admissions@tufts.edu and request to be connected to a current transfer student. Additionally, keep your eyes peeled for blog posts reflecting on the experience of transferring to Tufts.

Are interviews available for transfer students?

Unfortunately, we do not offer interviews for transfer applicants.

Can transfer students defer their admission?

No, transfers are admitted for the fall term following the application deadline and cannot defer their admission. If you want to take time away from your undergraduate studies, we encourage you to wait to apply until you are ready to resume your studies.