Understanding Aid Policies: Undergraduate Students

You and your family are expected to contribute to your undergraduate educational expenses to the extent that you are able. In our analysis of family finances, the Financial Aid office reviews information reported on the CSS Profile, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and federal tax returns in order to determine your family’s contribution.  We also review business taxes and noncustodial parent information, if either of these apply to your family.

The Parent Contribution is our estimate of your parents’ ability to contribute to your education based on such factors as income, assets, whether you will have housing charges or commute from home, your family size, and the number of siblings in college.

If you have one or more siblings enrolled full time as an undergraduate student with similar costs, the family contribution will be reduced. Graduate students are not included in the number in college calculation for institutional aid purposes.

The Student Contribution is based on your income and assets. The typical expectation will be $1,800 - $3,000.

The combination of student and parent contributions make up the Tufts Expected Family Contribution, or EFC.

In determining your eligibility for Tufts’ grants and loans, Tufts will use an institutional analysis as well as adjustments for information on your parents' tax returns. In some cases, the Tufts EFC shown on your financial aid decision letter will differ the federal Student Aid Index (SAI) shown on the FAFSA Submission Summary from the federal government. Tufts uses our institutional calculation to determine eligibility for Tufts grant aid.

To receive federal aid you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and have a valid Social Security number. To maintain your eligibility for federal aid, you cannot owe payments or be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan, a Federal Family Education Loan or a Direct Stafford Loan for attendance at Tufts or another institution; nor can you owe a repayment on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal SEOG Grant; nor can you have borrowed in excess of the loan limits, under Title IV Programs, at any institution. 

For a complete and detailed listing of federal aid requirements, please visit our Federal Aid Policies page.

Tufts University undergraduate financial aid recipients will be offered institutional aid for up to eight semesters or until completion of their bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. Financial aid recipients admitted to the five-year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree will be offered financial aid for up to ten semesters.

Transfer students, including those admitted as REAL students, will offered institutional aid based on their entering grade level. For example, a student who enters as a sophomore can expect to be offered Tufts aid for up to six semesters, or until their bachelor's degree is obtained, whichever comes first.

After reaching the limit of institutional financial aid eligibility, students who must continue enrollment (including part-time enrollment) to obtain their bachelor's degree must petition for additional terms of financial aid. Tufts financial aid is not guaranteed beyond the respective limits detailed above.

Federal financial aid eligibility is subject to federal regulations, including enrollment status and Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

Undergraduate financial aid recipients admitted in to a bachelor's/master's combined-degree program should apply to the graduate school for scholarships for the fifth year or when the bachelor's degree requirements are completed, whichever comes first.

To receive University-administered financial aid, including federal student aid, students must be enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking program or an approved certificate program that qualifies for federal aid. Financial aid is only available for coursework that applies toward the requirements of the student’s officially declared program of study. 

Courses that do not count toward degree or certificate requirements cannot be included when determining federal aid eligibility or enrollment status for financial aid purposes. Enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, etc.) is based solely on eligible coursework that applies to the student’s program.

Why Enrollment Matters

Undergraduate financial aid is initially calculated assuming full-time enrollment in an eligible degree program (12 credits or more). Your cost of attendance, including tuition and required fees, is also based on full-time status. If you enroll less than full-time, your financial aid may be adjusted to reflect your actual enrollment level. If you enroll less than full-time, your financial aid will be reduced or canceled to reflect your actual enrollment status. This includes federal, state, and institutional aid programs.

Financial aid is designed to help support your educational costs while enrolled at Tufts. Because your cost of attendance decreases when you are enrolled in less credits, federal, state, and institutional aid must be adjusted to align with that change. This ensures compliance with federal regulations and equitable treatment across the student body.

Undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credits after the add/drop period are considered full-time. Only credits that apply toward your degree program requirements count toward enrollment for financial aid purposes.

Financial Aid is Subject to Change

Each semester, your financial aid eligibility is reviewed after the add deadline, and any enrollment changes may result in an adjustment to your aid. All financial aid is subject to review and adjustment. Common reasons aid may be reduced or canceled include:

• Enrollment below full-time (12 SHUs) or changes to your registered credits
• Receipt of additional funding (such as outside scholarships, tuition remission, sponsored grants, or fellowships)
• Changes or corrections to FAFSA or other application data
• Failure to complete required documentation
• Loss of degree-seeking status
• Failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards (federal and/or institutional)
• Changes required to comply with federal, state, or University regulations

Some scholarships also require students to maintain specific academic or enrollment standards and may be reduced or canceled if those requirements are not met.

Academic Accommodations

Academic accommodations approved through the Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center do not supersede the federal definition of full-time enrollment for financial aid purposes. In accordance with federal regulations, Tufts University defines full-time undergraduate enrollment as 12 semester-hour units (SHUs) per term.

While the StAAR Center may approve reduced course loads or other academic accommodations, such adjustments do not alter the federal enrollment thresholds used to determine financial aid eligibility. Financial aid awarding and enrollment status for federal aid purposes are based on the federal definition of full-time enrollment.

Before You Make Changes

If you are considering dropping credits or changing your enrollment status, we encourage you to contact Student Financial Services before making any changes. Enrollment adjustments can affect not only your financial aid, but also billing, loan repayment, and future eligibility.

Less Than Full-Time Enrollment

If you enroll less than full-time (fewer than 12 credits for undergraduates), your financial aid eligibility will decrease, and some awards may be reduced or canceled.

• Federal and institutional grants and scholarships will be prorated based on the number of credits you are enrolled in.
• To remain eligible for federal loans, you must be enrolled at least half-time each semester. At Tufts, half-time status is 6 or more credits for undergraduate students.
• Aid that requires specific enrollment levels may be reduced or canceled if your credit load does not meet eligibility thresholds.
• Your cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect reduced tuition and educational expenses.
• State aid will be likely be cancelled

Less Than Half-Time Enrollment

If you enroll less than half-time (fewer than 6 credits for undergraduates), the impact on financial aid is more significant:

• Federal Work-Study and need-based institutional scholarships are not available.
• Federal and state grant aid may be reduced or canceled.
• Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible for Federal Direct Loans and will enter repayment after their grace period.
• Food and Housing may be removed from the cost of attendance per federal aid requirements.
• Personal Expenses must be removed from the cost of attendance per federal aid requirements.
• Private loans may still be available; however, existing loans may enter repayment depending on lender terms. Students should contact their loan servicers directly to understand repayment obligations related to enrollment changes.

More information about the appeal process is available on the dedicated pages for Admitted Students and Current and Returning Students.