Teaching assistantships are usually assigned to second-year students who have a demonstrated familiarity with the subject matter, but applications are accepted from everyone. The department administers the Alvin Levin Fellowship, a scholarship fund for women of color. The department is committed to supporting a diverse student body through financial aid. A limited amount of designated graduate student housing is available on the Tufts campus. There is an adequate supply of moderately priced housing in the surrounding residential areas.
Most graduate students live off campus in apartments in the area.
Meal plans are available on campus. Student Group Of the 5,900 Tufts students on the Medford-Somerville campus, approximately 1,300 are graduate students. The department enrolls approximately 36 students per year, with about 70 to 80 enrolled at one time. Although the department admits a few applicants directly out of college, students benefit most from the program if they have had some relevant work experience subsequent to college. The average age of recent entering classes has been 26.