The large research university versus the small elite school that thinks it should be Ivy League. One has 35,000 students and endless options. The other has 6,000 students and endless opinions about why smaller is better.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Head-to-head by the numbers
Mid-50% range
Depends on your preference
BU's scale advantage
Tufts smaller size helps
Tufts is D3
Category Battles
Vote on who wins each category. Click a side to cast your vote.
Campus Vibe
Academic Experience
Social Scene
Athletics & Spirit
Career Outcomes
Location & Access
Prestige & Perception
Value for Money
Unfiltered opinions. Handle with care.
Tufts students won't shut up about how they 'could have gone Ivy but chose Tufts.' Sure you did, buddy.
The Fletcher School is legitimately one of the best international relations programs in the world. Credit where it's due.
Tufts is for people who wanted a small liberal arts school but also wanted to be near a city. It's the compromise option.
At BU, you can be anonymous. At Tufts, everyone will know about your breakup within 24 hours.
Tufts undergrads are genuinely smart and driven. The acceptance rate doesn't lie. They earned their spots.
If you want to work in international development or policy, Tufts' network and programs are hard to beat.
BU has actual school spirit. Tufts has... a mascot that's an elephant for some reason? Jumbo energy.
THE VERDICT
This comes down to size. Tufts offers an intimate, intellectual community with professors who know your name. BU offers scale, options, and urban access. Both are excellent—it's about what environment makes you thrive.
Choose BU if...
- You want options and don't want to be boxed in
- City access and urban energy matter to you
- You want D1 sports and real school spirit
- You're interested in medicine, engineering, or media
Choose Tufts if...
- You thrive in smaller, tight-knit communities
- You want professors to know you personally
- International relations or policy is your path
- You prefer intellectual culture over sports culture
Tufts is a yacht. BU is an aircraft carrier. Both get you there—just very different rides.
— The Rivalry Zone
Which School Fits You?
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