Is Duke or Tufts better for building a career in Boston?

For building a career specifically in Boston, Tufts has the more direct day-to-day advantage. Its Medford/Somerville location puts students near Boston employers throughout the academic year, making informational interviews, alumni coffee chats, part-time work, and semester internships far more practical.

The location matters most when recruiting depends on repeated in-person contact rather than one formal interview cycle. A Tufts student can realistically intern during a semester at a Boston startup, hospital, lab, policy organization, or company, then use that experience to build references before senior-year recruiting.

Duke’s alumni network and career resources are exceptionally strong, and Duke graduates do land jobs in Boston. But because Duke is in Durham, Boston-focused networking typically requires more intentional travel, virtual outreach, or a summer in the city rather than regular in-semester involvement.

For a student who already knows Boston is the likely destination, Tufts makes it easier to turn interest in the city into a local professional network before graduation.