Is Tufts or Colgate more fun for undergraduates?

For sheer campus-centered social energy, Colgate usually feels more obviously “fun” to undergrads, while Tufts tends to feel more varied, independent, and less built around one shared weekend scene. Colgate’s residential setup in a small town means a lot of student life happens with the same community on and around campus, and weekends can feel concentrated and lively. Tufts has plenty going on, but because it sits right next to Boston, social life is more spread out and often depends on how much you want to plug into campus versus the city.

Colgate tends to appeal to students who want a traditional residential college atmosphere where people stay nearby, know each other well, and treat campus events, parties, athletics, and student organizations as the center of the social week. Hamilton is small, so there is less off-campus distraction, which can make the school feel tight-knit and high-energy in a very contained way. That can be a real plus if you want weekends to feel communal rather than fragmented.

Tufts fits students who like an active social life but do not need it to look like one dominant campus culture. The vibe is often described as smart, quirky, involved, and socially aware, with students splitting time among clubs, friend-group events, nearby restaurants, concerts, and outings in Somerville, Cambridge, or Boston. That gives you more variety, but it can also mean the social scene feels less unified than at a more isolated campus.

If by “fun” you mean school spirit, a concentrated weekend scene, and the sense that most people are participating in the same social world, Colgate has the edge. If “fun” to you means options, city access, and a student culture that is lively without being as socially centralized, Tufts may feel more natural.