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On-Campus Housing

The experimental, inclusive spirit you and your peers build in the studio touches every aspect of your life at SMFA. Communal living is an integral part of life for SMFA at Tufts students.

Housing for BFA Students

All first-year BFA students are required to live in Tufts housing on Beacon Street in the coveted neighborhood of Brookline, near our SMFA campus. For many of you, this will be the first time that you're living in an artistic community. It provides the invaluable experience of living in a community of people who are dedicated to growing and evolving as students and artists.

While you will benefit from the proximity to your classes and campus activities, the greatest benefit to living in SMFA housing is the close relationships that you will form with your peers. We're a tight-knit community at SMFA. The people you live with will come from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and parts of the world. These differences provide a diverse community that will define your student experience and enhance your artistic growth.

Rising sophomore BFA students live on the Medford/Somerville campus during their second year.

SMFA Residence Halls & Staff

SMFA's Beacon Street housing consists of three historic, renovated brownstones—1023 Beacon, 1025 Beacon, and 1047 Beacon —located in close proximity to the SMFA campus. The residence halls provide students with a quintessential college experience in one of the most desirable neighborhoods of Boston.

Each residence hall has a student staff that is responsible for the student leadership of each hall. Their duties consist of extra-curricular programming, move-in and move-out facilitation, student support, resource connection, on-call availability, and assisting in health and safety inspections. The Office of Residential Life and Learning coordinates all aspects of SMFA living in conjunction with SMFA Student Life. For more information on Residential Life, staffing, policies, and procedures, visit the Office of Residential Life and Learning’s website.

Housing for Combined Degree Students

Due to the different academic requirements of the program, Combined Degree (BFA + BA/BS) students are required to live on the Medford/Somerville campus for their first two years at Tufts. You can check out the different living options on the Medford Campus on the Residential Life website.

Off-Campus Living

During their junior and senior years at SMFA, many students live off-campus in one of Boston's diverse and interesting neighborhoods. The Office of Residential Life and Learning provides listings of available apartments, roommates, realtors, and alternative accommodations on their Off-Campus Housing website; plus, office resources to support your search, including telephones, Internet access, and bulletin boards. 

Dining

SMFA Café

The SMFA Café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday – Thursday, and breakfast and lunch Friday. The café features a fresh soup and salad bar, a sizzle station for burgers, fries, and other items, and a hot food bar with savory entrées and sides. Look for an assortment of freshly-made grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, and wraps, plus healthy snacks and yogurt. There's always fresh fruit and things to munch on, as well as our popular espresso drinks, chai lattes, teas, and coffee.

In addition to the Boston-based café, SMFA students also have access to all dining locations on the Medford/Somerville campus, including Fresh at Carmichael and Dewick-MacPhie Dining Centers, Commons Marketplace, Hodgdon Food-on-the Run, Hotung Café, Kindlevan Café, Mugar Café, and Pax et Lox Kosher Deli. More information can be found on the Tufts Dining website.

SMFA Meal Plans

  • First-year BFA students living on the Boston SMFA Campus are required to be on the SMFA A Plan.
  • First-year students living on the Medford/Somerville campus are automatically enrolled in the Tufts Premium Plan but may opt to enroll in the SMFA Premium Rhino Bucks Plan instead (please contact the Dining office at 617-627-3566 or tuftsdining@tufts.edu to do so).
  • The SMFA A & B Plans provide a variety of eating options designed to support students who live in Boston. This includes meal swipes that can be used Fresh at Carmichael/Dewick-MacPhie Dining Centers on the Medford/Somerville Campus, SMFA Café Meal Money, Rhino Bucks, as well as meals in Emmanuel College’s all-you-care-to-eat or retail/pick 4 locations.
  • See our helpful Guide to SMFA Meal Plans.
  • More details can be found on the Tufts Dining website.

Rhino Bucks/Campus Cash Program

SMFA students are eligible to participate in our declining balance program, Rhino Bucks. Rhino Bucks are stored on your Rhino Bucks Card and are accepted at the many Boston businesses that welcome Campus Cash. All businesses that accept Campus Cash have a "Campus Cash Welcomed Sticker" in a visible location.

Add Rhino Bucks to Your Card

For any questions about Tufts Dining options for SMFA students, contact: tuftsdining@tufts.edu or call 617-627-3566.

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