After Admission: Prospective Undergraduate Students
Congratulations on your acceptance to Tufts!
You and your family may be wondering what to do next. This page is a comprehensive guide for the things you should be aware of now and in the coming months, like when you can expect to receive your bill, how outside aid may impact your financial aid award, and how you can get help if you need it.
Financial Aid First Steps
Here are the steps you should take now:
- Review your financial aid decision letter. Our Understanding Your Award Letter page is a helpful resource to understand all the information you'll find on the financial aid decision letter if you were awarded aid.
- Review the topics on this page. In each section below, you'll find answers to key financial aid and billing questions many students and families have after reviewing the financial aid decision letter.
- Download the Financial Aid at Tufts and Family Financing at Tufts brochures. These brochures offer all the financial aid and billing information that you’ll need throughout 2024-2025 in complete detail, in a colorful visual format, all in one convenient document.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Check out the “We’re Here to Help You” section below to learn how you can get in touch with us. We are open Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET.
Financial Aid Decision Letter
A detailed, two-page notification letter is sent to students who were awarded need-based financial aid shortly after they receive acceptance notification from Admissions. Basic award information can be viewed in your online Admissions account a day or so after the award letter has been sent.
Be sure to read the entire letter and its Addendum after you receive it. Understanding Your Award Letter is a helpful guide to become familiar with the terms and figures on the letter.
Please note that your financial aid letter is not a bill, and the expected family contribution listed may differ from the combined fall and spring semester bill balances. This is because the cost of attendance that your financial aid is based upon includes out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., books) that are not charged to your bill. Also, any work study in your aid package is earned and not credited to your bill. Click on the Financial Aid and Billing Timeline tab below to learn more about receiving and paying your bill.
Appeal Process Deadline
If there has been a significant change in your family’s circumstances or new information you think may not have been considered initially, you may submit an Appeal Form, explanation letter and supporting documents for consideration. Visit the Appeal Process page for full details.
Please note there is a limited time to appeal for more aid after you have been accepted. Once you have paid your admission deposit, you will normally not be considered for any additional first-year aid.
The review process can take 7-10 business days, so be sure to submit your Appeal as soon as possible prior to the Admissions deposit deadline indicated in your acceptance notification. Appeals will not be considered after the respective deposit deadline of each round of admission.
Financial Aid and Billing Timeline
We bill students electronically for the fall and spring semester using eBill. Students must invite their parent(s), or any other individual, to view or pay the eBill.
Except for work study, all your financial aid will be credited to your bill at the beginning of each semester. The balance due each semester is the difference between the charges billed by Tufts and the aid credited to your student account. Your family can begin planning and preparing to pay the bill after you have been admitted to Tufts.
Several financing options are available for families to help cover their balance due: The Monthly Payment Plan, Federal Direct Loan (subsidized and/or unsubsidized), the Federal Direct PLUS Loan for parents, and private education loans. Here is a timeline of important billing and financing dates:
| July | Fall eBill released |
| July | Enroll in the Fall Monthly Payment Plan Apply for loans Sign loan paperwork Waive medical insurance if student already has coverage |
| August | Fall eBill due/Monthly Payment Plan enrollment deadline* |
| September | Fall classes begin |
| November | Spring eBill released |
| November | Enroll in the Spring Monthly Payment Plan |
| December | Spring eBill due |
| January | Spring Monthly Payment Plan enrollment deadline** |
| January | Spring classes begin |
| February | Apply for upcoming year’s financial aid |
*Fall 2024 Monthly Payment Plan enrollment deadline is 8/31/24.
**Spring 2025 Monthly Payment Plan enrollment deadline is 1/15/25.
Outside Aid
If you receive outside scholarships, or if your outside aid award differs from the amount estimated on your Tufts financial aid award, you must notify the aid office by submitting the Outside Scholarship Reporting Form to the email address on the form. Please note that tuition benefits from an employer and ROTC benefits are treated as outside scholarships.
In compliance with federal regulations and institutional policy, Tufts may reduce your aid award if you receive outside aid after we have met your full need. In that case, we’ll make the following adjustments:
- Your Tufts Grant will be reduced by the amount of a Federal Pell Grant and/or state scholarship/grant.
- Outside scholarship/grant aid will reduce the loan and/or work study portion of your original financial aid award.
- If your total outside aid exceeds your total original loan and work study award, then your Tufts Grant will be reduced.
If your outside scholarship payment will arrive after the bill due date, you must submit documentation from the scholarship organization to have a pending credit placed on your bill. This credit may be added only if the organization will send their payment directly to Tufts.
We're Here to Help You
Admitted students can find complete details on all financial aid matters on our website. But, if you still have questions or need help with your financial aid award or bill, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
- Get answers online: email the specialists at Student Services for help at studentservices@tufts.edu. Please be sure to include your name and ID number in your email.
- Get answers by phone: Call 617-627-2000 to speak with our Student Services representatives. They have access to your award information and are trained to answer billing and financial aid questions.
- Contact your financial aid counselor: If Student Services can’t answer your question, they’ll refer you to your aid counselor. Counselors are assigned by the last name of the student.