Maryland vs Tufts for economics: which is the better choice for an undergraduate econ major?

Tufts is the better pick for an undergraduate economics major if cost is reasonably close, because it offers a more intimate academic setting, very strong access to faculty, and a location that is especially useful for policy, consulting, and research opportunities.

The biggest academic difference is scale. At Tufts, classes in economics are more likely to feel discussion-based once you get past the introductory level, and it is usually easier to get known by faculty who can later support you with research roles and recommendations. For a student who wants an undergraduate experience centered on mentorship and close advising, that matters a lot in economics, where research methods, writing, and quantitative work all benefit from direct feedback.

The clearest advantage Maryland has is breadth and public-university resources. Maryland offers a larger ecosystem overall, with more course variety across related areas like math, statistics, public policy, and data science, plus proximity to Washington, DC for federal agencies, think tanks, and policy internships. If your version of economics leans heavily toward government, quantitative policy work, or pairing econ with another large-field program, Maryland has real appeal.

One major exception is price. If Maryland is dramatically cheaper, especially in-state, that can outweigh Tufts because economics does not require paying a premium the way some niche programs might.