Tufts or BU for economics: which is the better choice for an undergraduate economics major?

Tufts has the edge for undergraduate economics if your priority is a smaller, more personal academic experience with strong grad school preparation, while BU stands out more for scale, course variety, and direct access to a huge urban professional network. Both are respected for economics, but they feel quite different in how undergrads experience the major.

At Tufts, economics is one of the school’s most established and visible departments, and undergrads tend to benefit from smaller classes, easier faculty access, and a liberal arts environment where econ mixes well with political science, math, international relations, and public policy. That matters if you want close recommendation letters, research mentorship, or a more discussion-driven classroom experience rather than being one of many students in a very large program.

BU’s advantage is breadth. Because it is larger and located right in Boston, BU usually offers more sections, more specialized electives, and more immediate proximity to internships during the semester in finance, consulting, policy, and data-related roles. For a student who wants to explore applied economics in a big-city setting and build experience while classes are in session, BU can be especially appealing.

For grad school, Tufts may make it a bit easier to stand out academically because of the smaller scale and tighter faculty relationships, especially if you pair economics with strong quantitative coursework. For internships and sheer volume of opportunities, BU benefits from being deeply embedded in Boston’s employer ecosystem and from having a larger alumni presence across industries.

One other difference is the student experience around the major. Tufts tends to feel more campus-centered and undergraduate-focused, while BU can feel more independent and city-integrated. If economics is your main focus and you want the strongest balance of teaching quality, faculty access, and intellectual flexibility as an undergrad, Tufts is the more compelling pick.