Organizer Information
Tufts University is a private research university in Massachusetts, United States, with undergraduate and graduate education across the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts (SMFA), and other professional schools. For art, film, and media applicants, relevant study is offered through Film and Media Studies in the School of Arts and Sciences and studio-art programs at SMFA.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Tufts University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Post-Baccalaureate
- Degrees Offered: BA / BFA / MFA / MA / Combined BFA + BA/BS / Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Academic Fields: Film / Media / Fine Arts / Studio Art / Art History / Museum Studies / Creative Practice
- Relevant Programs: BA in Film and Media Studies; BFA; Combined Degree (BFA + BA/BS); MFA in Studio Art; MA in Creative Practice; Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Program-specific
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate: 2 November 2026, 4 January 2027; graduate deadlines are program-specific
- Start of Studies: Fall entry for the listed undergraduate programs
- Application Fee: $75 undergraduate; $85 for Graduate School of Arts and Sciences/School of Engineering applications
- Tuition: $74,862/year for typical full-time undergraduate study in 2026–2027; graduate tuition is program-specific
- Funding: Need-based undergraduate financial aid and graduate tuition scholarships are available.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Film and Media Studies combines film and media history, theory, analysis, and production. The BA requires 10 courses and can include a production sequence.
- SMFA's BFA is a self-directed studio-art degree with areas including ceramics, digital media, drawing, fibers, graphic arts, media arts, metals, painting, photography, print and paper, sculpture, and cross-disciplinary study.
- The Combined Degree combines the BFA with a BA or BS in an Arts and Sciences major.
- The MFA in Studio Art, MA in Creative Practice, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art are graduate/post-baccalaureate options. The MA in Creative Practice launches in Fall 2027.
General Eligibility
- Undergraduate applicants may apply to Tufts from abroad. First-year applicants apply through the Common Application, Coalition Application powered by Scoir, or QuestBridge. Applicants to the BFA and Combined Degree must identify the program for which they are applying.
- The BFA is designed for applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art requires a bachelor's degree.
Educational Background
- First-year applicants must submit secondary-school records. Applicants who have completed university coursework for credit must also submit transcripts from those institutions.
- Applicants to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art must have completed a bachelor's degree. MFA applicants must follow the graduate program's specific academic requirements.
Language Requirements
- Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency unless they have attended an English-instruction school for at least three years.
- Tufts accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, and Duolingo English Test. Tufts does not set minimum scores, but successful applicants generally have IELTS 7+, PTE Academic 68+, or Duolingo 130+.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Level | Application Fee | Fee Waiver |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $75 | Available under Tufts criteria |
| Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / School of Engineering | $85 | Available for eligible applicants |
International undergraduate applicants seeking need-based financial aid receive an application-fee waiver when requested through the application.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, including BA/BFA | Full-time undergraduate | $74,862 | Per academic year | Health & Wellness Fee $1,288; Activity Fee $408 |
| Undergraduate AS&E | Approved part-time/per-credit | $3,119/credit | Per credit | Applicable student fees |
| MFA in Studio Art | Graduate | Estimated $98,456 total before aid | Per credit | Graduate fees apply |
| Post-Baccalaureate Studio Art | Post-baccalaureate | $47,886 | $23,943/semester | Health & Wellness and applicable insurance |
The 2026–2027 undergraduate health insurance charge is $4,976 when applicable. Graduate tuition varies by program and enrollment.
Funding & Financial Support
- Tufts states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted undergraduate students regardless of citizenship. International students must request financial aid when submitting their application. Tufts does not offer merit-based undergraduate scholarships.
- Graduate students may receive program-based tuition scholarships and other funding. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art offers tuition scholarships to high-achieving applicants.
University Services & Academic Support
Relevant academic support includes faculty advising, mentorship, internship coordination, career resources, production opportunities, independent study, and access to interdisciplinary coursework. FMS maintains a dedicated internship coordinator, while SMFA provides faculty advising and review-board feedback.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate applications include the application form, Tufts short-answer responses, official secondary-school transcripts, senior-year grades, counselor/school-official recommendation, teacher recommendation, and English-proficiency evidence where required. Standardized testing is optional.
- Applicants to the BFA and BFA + BA/BS Combined Degree must submit a visual-art portfolio of 12–20 completed works from the previous two years.
- Applicants to the MFA, MA in Creative Practice, and Post-Baccalaureate programs must submit a visual-art portfolio of 10–20 recent works.
- Graduate applications generally require transcripts, recommendations, personal statement, CV/resume, application fee, and any program-specific materials.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision I Application Deadline: 2 November 2026
- Early Decision II Application Deadline: 4 January 2027
- Regular Decision Application Deadline: 4 January 2027
- Visual Art Portfolio Deadline — Early Decision I: 4 November 2026
- Visual Art Portfolio Deadline — Early Decision II: 6 January 2027
- Visual Art Portfolio Deadline — Regular Decision: 6 January 2027
- Transfer Application Deadline: 15 March 2027
- Transfer Visual Art Portfolio Deadline: 22 March 2027
- Regular Decision Admission Results: By 1 April 2027
- Undergraduate Start of Studies: Fall 2027
Location
Tufts University — Medford, Massachusetts, United States
Additional Details
Beginning in September 2027, first-year SMFA BFA students will live on the Medford/Somerville campus under the university's undergraduate residency framework.
The SMFA BFA portfolio may include film, video, or animation, with up to 10 minutes of video material; applicants working exclusively in time-based media must provide at least five examples. Generative-AI artwork may not be submitted in the SMFA portfolio.