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Tufts University: SEC Tufts2019
Photo: NicholasWoofington, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Tufts University

  • LocationMedford, MA
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 13,274 students
Official website

Tufts University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Catholic Life at Tufts, run by the University Chaplaincy in Medford, offers Sunday Mass in Goddard Chapel, a Catholic sacraments class, and a weekly Lectio Divina gathering. The Catholic Community at Tufts is the listed Catholic student group, and the chaplaincy's director is Lynn Cooper, D.Min.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Sunday5:00 PM–6:00 PMGoddard Chapel

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Join us as we gather around word and table each week. All are welcome and as always, come as you are. Sundays, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.”
    The chaplaincy lists a Roman Catholic Mass on Sundays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Tufts University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Joseph's Church: 0.8 mi1St. John The Evangelist Church: 1.1 mi2Saint Francis Of Assisi: 1.5 mi3St. Catherine Of Genoa: 1.6 mi4Saint Anthony of Padua Parish: 1.9 mi5Immaculate Conception Parish Church: 1.9 mi6Tufts University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Joseph's Church — 0.8 mi · 118 High Street
  2. St. John The Evangelist Church — 1.1 mi · 2254 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
  3. Saint Francis Of Assisi — 1.5 mi · 441 Fellsway West, Medford
  4. St. Catherine Of Genoa — 1.6 mi · 185 Summer Street, Somerville
  5. Saint Anthony of Padua Parish — 1.9 mi · 12 Properzi Way, Somerville
  6. Immaculate Conception Parish Church — 1.9 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

CCatholic life on campus: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

66 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes (Catholic Life at Tufts is listed on the University Chaplaincy's pages.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Life at Tufts is a joyful, inclusive space where faith meets real life”
      The University Chaplaincy runs a Catholic Life program for students.
      “Sunday Mass at Goddard Chapel is the heart of our week”
      Sunday Mass is celebrated in Goddard Chapel at Tufts.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (A Sunday Mass is published.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join us as we gather around word and table each week. All are welcome and as always, come as you are. Sundays, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.”
      The chaplaincy lists a Roman Catholic Mass on Sundays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (One Sunday Mass at 5:00 PM in Goddard Chapel.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday Mass at Goddard Chapel is the heart of our week”
      Sunday Mass is celebrated in Goddard Chapel at Tufts.
      “Join us as we gather around word and table each week. All are welcome and as always, come as you are. Sundays, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.”
      The chaplaincy lists a Roman Catholic Mass on Sundays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (The Catholic Community at Tufts is the listed Catholic student group. The Tuesday Lectio Divina is a chaplaincy program and is not counted as a separate group.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Undergraduate Communities | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/find-your-community/find-your-community-undergraduate · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Community at Tufts (CCT) tuftscatholic@gmail.com”
      The Catholic Community at Tufts is a listed undergraduate religious community with a published email.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Off-campus retreats, local service projects, and a sacraments class are listed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “our chaplaincy and CCT student leaders organize off-campus retreats, cozy cook-a-long suppers, board game nights, and local service projects”
      The chaplaincy and CCT student leaders organize off-campus retreats, suppers, game nights, and local service projects.
      “Catholic Sacraments Class For community members interested in growing in their faith and preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation). Sundays, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Goddard Chapel”
      A Catholic sacraments class is offered on Sundays at Goddard Chapel, every other Sunday from September 27.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (1 weekly times documented: 1 Mass, 0 confession, 0 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Sunday Mass is offered on campus in Goddard Chapel.
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday Mass at Goddard Chapel is the heart of our week”
      Sunday Mass is celebrated in Goddard Chapel at Tufts.
      “Join us as we gather around word and table each week. All are welcome and as always, come as you are. Sundays, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.”
      The chaplaincy lists a Roman Catholic Mass on Sundays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.
  • A Catholic sacraments class, a weekly Lectio Divina gathering, and student-led retreats and service projects are listed.
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Sacraments Class For community members interested in growing in their faith and preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation). Sundays, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Goddard Chapel”
      A Catholic sacraments class is offered on Sundays at Goddard Chapel, every other Sunday from September 27.
      “Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Goddard Chapel”
      A Lectio Divina gathering for the Catholic community is held on Tuesdays at Goddard Chapel.
      “our chaplaincy and CCT student leaders organize off-campus retreats, cozy cook-a-long suppers, board game nights, and local service projects”
      The chaplaincy and CCT student leaders organize off-campus retreats, suppers, game nights, and local service projects.

Concerns

  • Mass is held in the shared Goddard Chapel.
    Sources (2)
    1. Sacred Spaces on Tufts Campuses | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/on-campus-sacred-spaces · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sacred Spaces on Tufts Campuses”
      The chaplaincy lists Goddard Chapel among the sacred spaces on Tufts campuses.
    2. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday Mass at Goddard Chapel is the heart of our week”
      Sunday Mass is celebrated in Goddard Chapel at Tufts.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Catholic Life at Tufts (Goddard Chapel)

  • Address: 3 The Green, Medford, MA 02155
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: Goddard Chapel, prayer space on the chapel balcony

Source: chaplaincy.tufts.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, chaplaincy.tufts.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, chaplaincy.tufts.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

7 groups and regular activities · 3 on campus, 1 off campus, 3 location not published

Retreats 1

  • Off-campus retreatsOff campus
    Retreats organized by the chaplaincy and CCT student leaders.
    chaplaincy.tufts.edu

Faith formation 2

  • Catholic Sacraments ClassOn campus
    Sundays, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., every other Sunday beginning Sept 27
    Preparation for the sacraments of initiation for community members interested in growing in their faith.
    chaplaincy.tufts.edu
  • Lectio DivinaOn campus
    Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
    Weekly scripture prayer gathering for the Catholic community at Goddard Chapel.
    chaplaincy.tufts.edu

Liturgy and prayer 1

Clubs and groups 1

Service 1

  • Local service projects
    Service projects organized by the chaplaincy and CCT student leaders in the local area.
    chaplaincy.tufts.edu

Social life 1

  • Cook-a-long suppers and board game nights
    Suppers and board game nights organized by the chaplaincy and CCT student leaders.
    chaplaincy.tufts.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (3)
  1. Catholic Life | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/religious-and-philosophical-communities/catholic-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Catholic Life at Tufts is a joyful, inclusive space where faith meets real life”
    The University Chaplaincy runs a Catholic Life program for students.
    “Lynn Cooper, D.Min. Senior Associate University Chaplain and Director of Catholic Life lynn.cooper@tufts.edu”
    Lynn Cooper is the Director of Catholic Life and is reachable at lynn.cooper@tufts.edu.
  2. Spaces | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/sacred-spaces · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Tufts University Chaplaincy Goddard Chapel 3 The Green Medford, MA 02155”
    Goddard Chapel is at 3 The Green, Medford, MA 02155.
  3. Sacred Spaces on Tufts Campuses | Tufts University Chaplaincychaplaincy.tufts.edu/on-campus-sacred-spaces · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Sacred Spaces on Tufts Campuses”
    The chaplaincy lists Goddard Chapel among the sacred spaces on Tufts campuses.
    “The prayer space is on the balcony of the chapel, up a set of stairs.”
    Goddard Chapel has a prayer space on its balcony.

Reach out

Contact details for Lynn Cooper, D.Min. (Senior Associate University Chaplain and Director of Catholic Life) and 2 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
98 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.94%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.96%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,513 · ACT 34
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.10 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$28,034

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division III · New England Small College Athletic Conference
SettingSuburb
ROTCArmy · Navy · Air Force
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member10 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
6,877
Total students13,274
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$39,998
Cost of attendance (per year)$88,300
Median federal debt at graduation$16,250
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
94%
First-year retention96%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$83,214
Admission rate11%
Students receiving Pell grants12%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1470–1560ACT 33–35
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1513
SAT reading & writing720–770
SAT math750–790
ACT composite33–35
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 67 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Boston

The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Tufts University a Catholic college?
No. Tufts University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Catholic Life at Tufts, University Chaplaincy.
What is Tufts University’s Catholic Life Score?
74 out of 100 (grade C). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Tufts University?
Mass is listed at Goddard Chapel. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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