How to Apply to Mathematics at Tufts: Applying to the School of Arts and Sciences, Declaring a Major by the Spring of Sophomore Year, Math, Applied Math and Pure Math Majors, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At Tufts University, undergraduate mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics in the School of Arts and Sciences, with majors in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics, each leading to a BA or BS. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on the Tufts mathematics department’s website, the admissions office and Student Services, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science has its own dedicated article on this site and is not covered here.

1. Majors and options

• Three majors: the department lists BA/BS majors in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics, and each page states that there is no distinction between the BA and BS degrees. There is also a mathematics minor and a fifth-year master’s program.
• Mathematics major: the department says it is for students who want a wider choice of math courses, and especially those intending to double major. Students matriculating in Fall 2025 or later take 10 courses beyond Calculus II (Math 34): Calculus III (Math 42), Linear Algebra (Math 70), Number Theory (Math 63) or Bridge to Higher Mathematics (Math 65), two of Real Analysis I (Math 135), Abstract Algebra I (Math 145) and Probability (Math 165), the corresponding second-semester course for one of those, two more math courses numbered 120 or above and two electives. Those matriculating in Fall 2023 or Fall 2024 take 11 courses, and earlier cohorts take 10; students may use the requirements of their matriculation year or a more recent set.
• Applied Mathematics major: the department says it is for those who want a more structured way of exploring applied mathematics, suitable for graduate study in mathematics or for careers requiring a heavy mathematics background. For Fall 2025 and later matriculants it takes 14 courses beyond Calculus II: Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Bridge to Higher Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling (Math 87), Real Analysis I, Differential Equations (Math 51) or Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos (Math 153), two of the following: Numerical Analysis or Numerical Linear Algebra (not both), Partial Differential Equations I, and Probability, four more math courses from the 120s, 130s, 150s or 160s, and two electives (one an outside-department course focused on applications of mathematics). Matriculants in Fall 2023 and 2024 take 13 courses.
• Pure Mathematics major: also aimed at those considering graduate study in mathematics. It takes 14 courses: Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Bridge to Higher Mathematics, one coding or computation course, a differential equations course, Real Analysis I, Abstract Algebra I, four upper-level math courses from at least three different decades, two more math courses numbered 120 or above and one elective. The department strongly urges students considering graduate school to complete Real Analysis I and II and Abstract Algebra I and II.
• Suggested pacing: the department advises majors to complete Math 42 and Math 70 by the end of the second year and encourages Math 61 (Discrete Mathematics), Math 63 or Math 65 to prepare for proofs; Applied Mathematics majors are also advised to complete Math 87 by the end of sophomore year.
• Engineering students: students in the School of Engineering may, with certain exceptions, choose mathematics as a second area of concentration by notifying the dean of engineering through the department at least one semester before graduation, and must satisfy both the engineering degree and the department’s requirements.
• Fifth-year master’s: exceptional Math and Applied Math majors can earn the bachelor’s and master’s in five years, finishing 120 undergraduate hours and 30 graduate hours, with 8 full-time undergraduate semesters and 2 full-time graduate semesters; up to two 100-level courses can count toward both degrees. Apply by the end of the spring semester of the junior year (senior-year applications if space allows). Competitive applicants have an overall GPA of at least 3.5, though others are still reviewed; the graduate application fee and the GRE are not required, and two recommendation letters are needed. Students pay four years of undergraduate tuition and the full graduate tuition.

2. Admission: you apply to a school, not a major

• Choose a school: admissions says applicants apply to the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering or the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts (or the five-year BFA + BA/BS Combined Degree); students are considered only for the school to which they apply, but once enrolled can take classes across all three. Mathematics is in Arts and Sciences.
• No major on the application: Tufts does not ask you to commit to a specific area of study; the pages read show no separate admission line for mathematics. If you change your mind about the school after submitting, email undergraduate.admissions@tufts.edu as early as possible and Tufts will confirm whether it can approve the request.
• Declaring the major: the admissions FAQ says Arts and Sciences students have until the spring of their sophomore year to declare (engineering students, the spring of the first year); the Arts and Sciences page adds that about a third of students double major and nearly half declare a minor. Whether the department limits places or sets a grade requirement for declaring is not stated on the pages read. The department uses a major checklist (a Kuali form) that is routed to your advisor and the department chair, and students may ask for an advisor through an advisor selection form.
• Who to ask: the department says students currently enrolled in mathematics courses can contact an instructor or Teaching Professor Chris Coscia, the director of undergraduate studies, with major or minor questions.

3. Prerequisites and placement

• High school courses: admissions recommends four years in each of English, world language, math, science and history/social studies, but says this is a recommendation and not a requirement, and that you are not expected to take a course in a subject whose offerings you have exhausted. Any specific high school mathematics requirement for the major is not published on the pages read.
• Placement: the department says placement exams are not required; its new-student advising page is meant to help students judge their own preparation, and students are encouraged to enroll in any course for which they feel ready. For questions, contact Professor Coscia or your advising dean.
• Which math course first: for students considering a math major or minor, the page suggests a course in the calculus sequence, Math 65 (Bridge to Higher Mathematics, introducing mathematical reasoning, problem solving and proof) or Math 70 (Linear Algebra, recommended after Calculus II but possible after Calculus I). For something other than calculus it also recommends Math 63 (Number Theory) and Math 87 (Mathematical Modeling). Those who have already taken multivariable calculus or linear algebra may consider Math 63 or Math 65.
• AP credit: the department’s page says a 4 or 5 on Calculus AB or a 4 on Calculus BC gives credit for Calculus I (Math 32), and a 5 on BC gives credit for Calculus I and II (Math 32 and 34). The admissions pre-matriculation page says Arts and Sciences students may receive up to five credit-bearing pre-matriculation course equivalents, usually 3 or more credits each; AB 4 or 5 earns 4 credits and BC 5 earns 8. Credit for AP Statistics toward the major is not stated on the pages read; confirm with your advisor.
• IB and A-Level: for Arts and Sciences, an IB HL Mathematics 7 earns the equivalent of Math 32 and 34 (8 credits) and a 6 earns Math 32 (4 credits); an A-Level Mathematics A earns Math 34 and a B earns Math 32.
• Honors course entry: the pages read do not describe an honors course sequence for mathematics; the senior honors thesis is covered in section 8.
• Math competitions: the admissions pages read do not say how competitions are viewed.

4. Deadlines and materials (fall 2027 first-year entry)

• Early Decision I: due 2 November 2026, decisions in mid-December; binding.
• Early Decision II: due 4 January 2027, decisions in early February; binding.
• Regular Decision: due 4 January 2027, decisions by 1 April. The pages read list no Early Action round.
• Supporting material deadlines: school report and recommendations 20 November (ED I), 11 January (ED II) and 17 January (RD); first-quarter or trimester grades 20 November (ED I) and 11 January (ED II), not required for RD; mid-year grades 15 February for all rounds.
• Application and materials: Common Application, Coalition Application (Scoir) or QuestBridge, with the personal statement and two Tufts short answers: Prompt 1 asks how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts (75-150 words), and for Arts and Sciences applicants Prompt 2 (100-200 words) asks about one of your favorite school assignments in the past two years and why you enjoyed it. You also need official high school transcripts, senior year grades, a counselor or school official recommendation and one recommendation from a core academic teacher in English, mathematics, natural or physical science, history or social science, or world language; Tufts does not say it must be a math teacher.
• Application fee: $75 or a fee waiver, which applicants receive automatically based on their answers on the application, or through Tufts-specific criteria.
• Testing: Tufts is test-optional for all undergraduate applicants and says it is “test-optional – really”, and will not assume an applicant’s scores fall below its ranges if none are submitted. It encourages applicants with an SAT of 1300 or higher or an ACT of 28 or higher to submit; in the most recent cycle, admitted first-year applicants who submitted scores ranged from 1240 to 1600 on the SAT and 26 to 36 on the ACT composite. Self-reported scores are accepted, with official scores required after enrollment. Before submitting you choose whether scores are included in review; the answer cannot be changed afterward.

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition: the cost page lists one undergraduate rate with no in-state/out-of-state split. For 2026-27, costs paid to the school (USD) are tuition 74,862, housing 11,220 (first-years and entering transfers; sophomores and resident assistants 12,588), food 9,374, and mandatory health and wellness and activity fees 1,696, a total of 97,152 for first-years on campus; books and supplies 1,000, personal expenses 1,846, and transportation depends on how far your home is.
• Aid: Tufts says it meets 100% of the full demonstrated need of all admitted students. Beginning with the fall 2026 entering class, US undergraduates with annual family income under $150,000 (with typical assets) attend tuition-free through the Tufts Tuition Pact. US citizens and permanent residents submit the FAFSA (code 002219) and the CSS Profile (code 3901): ED I 16 November, ED II 15 January and Regular Decision 1 February, with federal tax forms through IDOC by 1 December, 1 February and 15 February; QuestBridge applicants 1 November. Students who do not apply for aid when applying are not eligible for institutional aid in later years.
• Scholarships: see section 6; Tufts says it offers no merit scholarships to undergraduates.
• Residency preference or guaranteed admission: not stated on the pages read.

6. International applicants

• Credentials: admissions says international students submit the same credentials as other first-year or transfer applicants, and that the primary emphasis is on evaluating candidates within the context of their national academic system; it names GCSE and A-levels, the French Baccalaureate, the IB and the Abitur as systems it is familiar with.
• English: applicants whose primary language is not English must submit proof, unless they have been enrolled in a school where the primary language is English for at least three years (they may still submit if they wish); students in ESOL classes during secondary school may be asked for proof. Tufts accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo. It has no score minimums, but successful applicants generally have at least: TOEFL iBT 5.0 for exams from 21 January 2026 or 100 for earlier exams; IELTS 7; PTE Academic 68; Duolingo 130. TOEFL ITP Plus and the IELTS Indicator do not count. Self-reported English scores are accepted, with no superscoring (including TOEFL MyBest).
• Proof of funds: the pages read do not describe the financial documentation required for enrollment; ask the admissions office or international student office.
• Aid: Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need regardless of citizenship, but you must request aid when you submit your application; asking after admission means no aid. International applicants can submit the free International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) or the CSS Profile (Tufts offers no CSS fee waivers at application, so use the ISFAA if the fee is a barrier). Admitted international students who applied for aid submit the CSS Profile within 5-7 days of the decision and receive a fee waiver code. The application fee is waived for international citizens seeking need-based aid.
• Scholarships: Tufts says it offers no merit-based scholarships to undergraduates; graduates of United World Colleges can receive a need-based grant of up to $10,000 a year through the Davis United World College Scholars program.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions pages read do not mention the Gaokao or give China-specific guidance; this is not published there, so contact the admissions office (undergraduate.admissions@tufts.edu).
• Transcripts and other records: Tufts publishes only the general principle for international applicants (evaluation within the context of the national academic system) and no China-specific requirements.
• International curricula: students in IB, A-Level and AP programs can use the credit rules in section 3.
• English and testing: see sections 4 and 6.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5. Costs for 2027-28 have not been published.
• Honors thesis: the department says a senior honors thesis may include original research and/or research in original sources, with no department-wide length requirement. Students find a mathematics faculty advisor, register for Math 195/196 on SIS, return the honors thesis candidate declaration form and defend before a committee of two math faculty (typically a 30-60 minute talk plus questions). University rules require students to have been on the Dean’s List for at least two semesters to register; only a small number of seniors can complete a thesis each year, so contact potential advisors towards the end of junior year or earlier.
• Latin honors: the department says that for the class graduating in Spring 2022 and later, mathematics majors will not normally be recommended for summa cum laude without completing at least two of the five one-year sequences 125/126, 135/136, 145/146, 155/156 and 165/166 and at least six mathematics courses numbered above 100.
• Department scholarships: the pages read do not list department-specific scholarships.
• Outcomes: the department says: “Our majors find employment in industry (for instance in data analysis, statistics, insurance, etc.), K-12 teaching, and government, and some go on to graduate school in Mathematics or related disciplines, or even to law or medical school.” The pages read print no specific employment data.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts: anyone who has matriculated at another college or university, in good academic and disciplinary standing at an accredited two- or four-year institution. Tufts recommends at least one year of college study by enrollment, and discourages those with more than two years of full-time credit because a Tufts degree requires at least two years as a fully enrolled member of the community. Fall is the only entry point; there is no mid-year or January admission.
• Deadline: 15 March 2027, with decisions by mid-May (review in April and May). Apply through the Common Application for Transfer with the Tufts short answers; materials include a College Report from each college, one academic evaluation from a college instructor or advisor, all secondary school transcripts and official college transcripts, brief descriptions of your college courses, the $75 fee or a waiver request, a mid-term report uploaded between 15 March and 5 April, and English proficiency scores if applicable. Testing is optional.
• Math prerequisites: the transfer page sets no coursework requirement by intended major for Arts and Sciences (engineering has its own), and the pages read do not state calculus or linear algebra requirements for the math major; contact transfer.admissions@tufts.edu. The department says transfer credit questions go to its designated contact (the page names David Smyth).
• Credit transfer: academic departments authorize transfer credit in their disciplines. Advising Deans give a credit evaluation estimate at admission; only courses with a C– or higher can earn credit, Tufts does not transfer credit course for course automatically, up to 60 credits can transfer, and faculty make the final decision. Arts and Sciences and Engineering degrees require 120 credits.
• Aid: for transfer applicants the FAFSA and CSS Profile are due 1 April and tax documents through IDOC 15 April.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Apply by 2 November 2026 (ED I) or 4 January 2027 (ED II, RD), choosing the School of Arts and Sciences; testing is optional
• Say on the application that you want aid; submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by your round’s deadline

International applicants (including China):

• Prepare TOEFL 5.0 (new scale) or 100 (old), IELTS 7, PTE 68 or Duolingo 130; ask admissions how the Gaokao is used
• Request aid at the time of application; you can submit the ISFAA first and the CSS Profile after admission

After entry:

• Choose your calculus start from AP/IB credit; declare by the spring of sophomore year with the major checklist; if you are considering graduate study, choose Pure or Applied Mathematics and complete the analysis and algebra sequences

Transfer students:

• Apply for fall entry by 15 March 2027; only C– or higher courses can earn credit, up to 60 credits

Sources: Tufts University, Mathematics: undergraduate programs; BA/BS in Mathematics; BA/BS in Applied Mathematics; BA/BS in Pure Mathematics; Fifth-year master’s program; Course advising for new students; FAQs for undergraduate students; Honors and research; Admissions: School of Arts and Sciences; Admissions: apply; Admissions: first-year applicants; Application checklist and deadlines; Short answer questions; SAT and ACT; Application FAQ; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Transfer of credit; Applying for aid; International student aid; Pre-matriculation credits; 2026-27 cost of attendance. The admissions pages give dates such as 2 November 2026 and 4 January 2027, and the costs are 2026-27 figures; the department pages are the current versions. See Tufts’ website for the latest.