Tufts Blogs

When students are considering where to attend college, one of the most common factors in the decision-making process is location. In addition to the academic offerings and campus culture, the location of Tufts is one of the many things that students fall in love with. Integrated with the vibrant landscape of the greater Boston area, Tufts gives students the perfect opportunity to have a college experience that blends city and suburban atmospheres. Students at Tufts have the traditional, residential college environment with a defined campus space, and a close-knit community feel, and they also have all the resources of a large city right at their fingertips.

Medford and Somerville, the cities where Tufts is located, are wonderful communities to live. Medford has about 60,000 residents. It’s one of America’s oldest cities and was even the birthplace of “Jingle Bells,” which was written in 1850 about sleigh races held in the community. Middlesex Fells Reservation gives residents access to the miles of hiking trails located within the state park. Next to Medford is the city of Somerville. Somerville is the most densely populated municipality within New England and has over 80,000 residents within its four square miles. Somerville is known for the invention of  Marshmallow Fluff (celebrated yearly with the Fluff Festival) and has a vibrant art scene with the second largest number of artists per capita, right after New York City. With Somerville’s Davis Square just a 15 minute walk away (or accessible via Tufts shuttle), Tufts students can access a grocery store, convenience stores, an independent movie theater, countless dining options, and a bowling alley. This is a popular hang out for students who are looking to get off campus to study in one of several coffee shops, grab ice cream at JP Licks, or just take a walk through with friends on a nice day. The cities of Medford and Somerville are both highly walkable and accessible, which means that Tufts students are able to get around easily without ever needing a car.

Beyond Tufts’ immediate neighborhoods, you have the city of Boston (and you’ll find a great view of it from the rooftop of our Tisch Library). We are about five miles from downtown and the city is always just a train ride away. In December 2022, a Green Line T stop (Boston’s subway system) opened right on campus, connecting students to infinite resources and opportunities. With over 40 colleges and universities in the metro area, Boston has a strong academic community that allows students to connect across campuses through sports and student organizations. Students across the world are drawn to the city’s history and culture, including the famous Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston’s Freedom Trail, the Museum of Fine Arts (free for all Tufts students!), USS Constitution Museum, and of course, the famous North End neighborhood where you’ll find some of the best Italian food and cannolis. Not only is the Medford/Tufts T stop immediately accessible, there is a second stop on the Red Line in Davis Square. This allows students to access endless places across the greater Boston area without ever needing a car.

The location of Tufts gives student life the perfect balance of campus community while being able to explore the world outside of the university. About 86% of Tufts students complete an internship while they are a student, with the majority of them completing more than one. Students are able to pursue internships during the academic year, not just during the summer, due to the ease of access to major industries and organizations focused in Boston. Top industries include biotechnology, health care, hospitality, finance, government, and higher education. Students at Tufts are able to get hands-on, real world experience before they graduate at large companies headquartered in Boston including Lego, New Balance, Fidelity Investments, Wayfair, Boston Children’s Hospital, and many more. The Tufts Career Center is a great resource to help our students find these opportunities, even sharing data on popular internships by major.

There are many things to love about Tufts and the unbeatable opportunities that come with the best-of-both-worlds campus environment are among the most compelling.