How to Apply to Engineering at Tufts University: Apply to the School of Engineering, Declare One of 16 BS Programs by 15 February of First Year, and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Tufts University, in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, teaches undergraduate engineering in its School of Engineering. You apply to the School and declare a major after you arrive. This guide summarises Tufts’ published information for fall 2027 entry for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students.

1. Engineering programs

The degree sheets page says the School offers 16 programs leading to a Bachelor of Science, listed by department:

• Biomedical Engineering: BS in Biomedical Engineering (BSBME).
• Chemical and Biological Engineering: BS in Chemical Engineering (BSCHE), accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
• Civil and Environmental Engineering: BS in Civil Engineering (BSCE) and BS in Environmental Engineering (BSEVE), both ABET-accredited; plus BSE programs in Architectural Studies and Public Health Engineering.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering: BS in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) and BS in Computer Engineering (BSCPE), both ABET-accredited; plus BS in Engineering Physics (BSEP).
• Mechanical Engineering: BS in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), ABET-accredited; plus BS in Human Factors Engineering (BS-HFE).
• Other: BS in Engineering (BSE) and BS in Engineering Science (BSES).
• The BS in Computer Science and BS in Data Science also sit in the School of Engineering; we cover computer science in a separate guide.

Second majors include Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. Course requirements for each program are on the degree sheets, by graduating class (2027–2030).

2. Admission: apply to the School, declare a major after enrolling

• Applying: engineering applicants follow the same process as all first-year applicants and choose the School of Engineering on the application.
• Declaring: new engineering students get a Pre-Major Advisor before they arrive, and must declare a major by 15 February of their first year.
• Thresholds: the pages we read do not say whether declaring a major has a GPA requirement or a cap; ask the engineering advising office.
• Moving from Arts and Sciences: the advising team supports internal transfers from Arts and Sciences to Engineering; the conditions are not published.

3. High school preparation

• Admissions strongly encourages School of Engineering applicants to take four years of rigorous math and science, including physics and calculus when available and accessible.
• There is a computer programming placement exam for students with programming experience. The pages we read do not say which engineering courses AP or IB results can replace.

4. Deadlines and materials

• Early Decision I (binding): 2 November 2026.
• Early Decision II (binding): 4 January 2027.
• Regular Decision: 4 January 2027.
• Test-optional for all undergraduate applicants; the School of Engineering has no extra testing requirement.
• Apply with the Common App, Scoir (Coalition) or QuestBridge.

5. U.S. applicants

• Cost: Tufts is private, so there is no in-state rate. The 2026-27 first-year on-campus cost: tuition $74,862, housing $11,220, food $9,374 and fees $1,696, totalling $97,152.
• Tufts Tuition Pact: starting with the class enrolling in 2026, U.S. students whose family income (with typical assets) is under $150,000 attend tuition-free; the average total grant in an aid award is $55,000.
• Need-based aid: Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students; it has no undergraduate merit scholarships.

6. International applicants

• Review: applicants are evaluated mainly within their own country’s education system; send four years of school grades, official results of national exams taken and predicted results for exams to come.
• English: required if English is not your primary language and you have not studied for three years in English. There is no minimum, but admitted students typically have TOEFL 5.0 on the new scale (100 before 21 January 2026), IELTS 7, PTE Academic 68 or Duolingo 130.
• Aid: need-based aid is open to all nationalities, but Tufts says its funds for international students are limited. You must request aid on the admission application; later requests are not considered. Submit the ISFAA or CSS Profile when you apply; aid applicants can have the application fee waived.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: Tufts does not say how it uses the Gaokao; it reviews predicted results alongside earlier grades, and admission depends on finishing as expected.
• Transcripts and translation: all materials must be in English; students and family members may not translate their own documents. A school teacher or staff member, a professional translator or an EducationUSA office may.
• Interview: InitialView or Duolingo interviews are accepted as evidence of English.
• Tufts gives no separate math and science expectations for the Chinese curriculum; follow section 3.

8. Transfer

• Deadline: 15 March 2027, fall entry only, decisions by mid-May; $75 fee; testing optional.
• Coursework for the School of Engineering:
  • Sophomore transfer: at matriculation, at least two semesters of college calculus or higher math and two semesters of calculus-based physics or chemistry.
  • Junior transfer: two years of college coursework that satisfies the introductory engineering courses and progresses toward the foundation requirements of the intended major (see the degree sheets).
• Other: completing at least a year of college first is recommended; you must spend two years at Tufts to earn a degree. Courses at C- or better transfer, up to 60 credits. Aid for international transfer students is extremely limited.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Take rigorous math and science, ideally including physics and calculus; ED I by 2 November, ED II or RD by 4 January
• Check the Tuition Pact if family income is under $150,000; need-based aid meets 100% of need

International applicants (including China):

• Typical English: TOEFL 5.0, IELTS 7, Duolingo 130; an InitialView interview is optional
• Have non-English documents translated by your school or a professional; request aid on the application itself

Transfer students:

• Apply by 15 March 2027; sophomore entry needs two semesters of calculus and two of calculus-based physics or chemistry

Sources: Tufts University, School of Engineering undergraduate; Engineering degree sheets; Engineering advising; School of Engineering applicants; Applying to Tufts; International applicants; International student aid; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Transfer applicants; Transferring to the School of Engineering. Information is for fall 2027 entry; check Tufts’ website for the latest.