Financial Resources through FIRST

Hidden Costs While Attending College

Attending college provides students with many exciting opportunities in and out of the classroom. However, we understand that some of these opportunities come at a cost beyond your tuition and fees. While Tufts provides financial aid meeting students' needs to support tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation to and from Tufts, and textbooks, it is important to know that students will incur several additional costs that they must manage with their own finances or by working.

Below is information from other students that help shed light on these areas so you can best budget for your time at college. Tufts is also excited to offer some ideas and additional funding to mitigate some of these costs. These supports are listed below. 

Please note: Financial Resources through FIRST are available to undergraduate students only.

What students have shared with us

  • Education

    • Class materials (textbooks, online access codes, computer software, iClickers, lab materials)
    • Summer courses
    • Printing prices
    • Study Abroad, including application fees
    • Professional attire for interviews and events

    Travel

    • Getting to and around Boston

    Graduation

    • Senior Week activities
    • Commencement preparations

    Miscellaneous

    • Clubs and organizations
    • Meals after hours
    • Off-campus housing
    • The Tufts tradition of painting the cannon
    • Seasonal clothing
  • Employment

    • Working part-time or utilizing work study opportunities
    • Taking on non-work study opportunities
    • Internships

    Budgeting

    • Borrowing needed supplies and materials like textbooks
    • Selling unwanted clothes and textbooks

    Miscellaneous

    • Completing Psychology studies for money
    • Prioritizing activities based on cost
    • Career Center
    • Deans, Financial Counselors, Major Advisors
    • E-lists for free food opportunities on campus
    • Health Services
    • Inter-Library Loan
    • JobX
    • Free printing from any center within the Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion
    • Scanning books in Tisch
    • STEM Diversity events
    • Student Services
    • Amazon
    • Buying in bulk
    • Facebook Groups
    • Family members
    • Free clinics
    • Groupon
    • Student Universe for booking flights
    • Thrift shops
    • Admissions
    • StAAR Center tutoring
    • Asking professors
    • Babysitting
    • Chaplaincy
    • Dining Services
    • Dowling
    • Event staff
    • Gym
    • Hodgdon
    • Library
    • Lifeguarding
    • Mail Services
    • Music Department
    • OCL jobs
    • Research Assistant
    • Telefund
    • Temp agencies
    • Tufts Literacy Corps

Did you know . . . ?

Research suggests that students who work on campus are better connected, have a better experience in college, and have access to more opportunities than those who work off campus.

Explore Financial Resources through FIRST and Campus Partners