Which is better for study abroad, University of Washington or Tufts?

Tufts has the edge for study abroad. International study is especially woven into Tufts’ identity through its School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, and the Fletcher connection, and the university is well known for encouraging students to spend a semester or summer abroad without making it feel like an unusual path. Tufts also has a long-established mix of its own programs and approved external options, which tends to give students strong advising around academics, logistics, and how the experience fits their degree.

One concrete difference is how central global education feels on campus. At Tufts, study abroad is closely tied to language study, international relations, civic engagement, and interdisciplinary coursework, so students often find programs that connect directly to what they are studying rather than treating abroad as a side experience. That matters if you want your semester away to count meaningfully toward major or distribution requirements.

The University of Washington also offers a large menu of options, and its size helps here. UW has many exchange, faculty-led, and partner programs, including strong opportunities in Asia and the Pacific that reflect Seattle’s location and the university’s academic strengths. If your interests line up with fields like public health, environmental studies, engineering, or Asian languages and cultures, UW can be especially appealing.

The difference is that UW’s scale can make the experience feel a bit more decentralized. Opportunities are there, but navigating school-specific requirements and planning across a very large university may require more initiative. Tufts tends to feel more intentionally built around helping undergraduates make abroad part of a coherent four-year plan.