Tufts University AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L1 → L3 (Brainstorming only)
Disclosure: D1 → D0 (Unknown policy)
Enforcement: E2 → E0 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Tufts University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: Brainstorming only
- •School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA): AI use permitted
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Brainstorming essay topics with AI
- Spell-check and basic grammar tools
✗Avoid
- Any AI rewriting or paraphrasing of your sentences
- Using AI-suggested phrasing in your final draft
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“Applicants...may use AI and other online tools for brainstorming or creative inspiration”
— Short Answer Questions | Tufts Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“we expect that applicants will not copy or transcribe generated text or materials directly into an application”
— Short Answer Questions | Tufts Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“AI does not have the capacity to effectively replace an applicant's unique perspectives, experiences, and writing style”
— Answering Tufts' Short-Answer Questions | Inside Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA)
“SMFA at Tufts supports the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) as one of many tools”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: portfolio
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •brainstorming
- •creative inspiration
✗ Not Allowed
- •copying or transcribing AI-generated text into application
- •submitting AI-generated text as own writing or creation
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | Brainstorming only | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) | AI use permitted | Must disclose AI use | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (9)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/
- https://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/ai-statement/
- https://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/applying-to-tufts/checklist-and-deadlines/
- https://admissions.tufts.edu/blogs/inside-admissions/post/personal-statement-writing-the-why/
- https://asegrad.tufts.edu/applying/requirements
- https://gsbs.tufts.edu/admissions/application-requirements
- https://gradase.admissions.tufts.edu/apply/
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L3 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-18 | L1 | D1 | E2 | High |
Additional Context
Tufts has an explicit AI policy for undergraduate admissions embedded on the Short Answer Questions page and the Inside Admissions blog. The policy allows AI for brainstorming or creative inspiration but prohibits copying or transcribing generated text into applications. The former dedicated AI statement page (admissions.tufts.edu/apply/ai-statement/) now returns a 404; the policy text has been integrated into existing pages. SMFA at Tufts has a separate, more permissive policy for portfolios that allows ethical AI use but requires disclosure of how AI was incorporated. No AI-specific admissions policy found for graduate programs. No enforcement mechanisms described on official admissions pages. Previously classified as L1/D1/E2; reclassified to L3/D0/E0 based on the explicit prohibition of transcribing AI-generated text (not merely permissive) and absence of disclosure requirements or enforcement mechanisms in the official policy language.
Frequently Asked Questions
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