We have had family members attend both schools. There are some similarities in culture. Wash U is more pre-professional (bigger engineering, business, pre-med) and a more competitive “work hard/play hard” type of culture. Tufts is more “liberal artsy”, find your passion, “learning shouldn’t be work/play shouldn’t be hard” type of culture. Both are friendly. Wash U tending toward more social, Tufts tending toward more inclusive.
In terms of location (i.e. financal centers): Tufts has NYC, Boston and DC, Wash U has Chicago. Tufts is a subway ride away from Boston’s Financial District, so you can hold down an internship during the school year. (My daughter continued to work downtown 20 hours per week diuring her first semester senior year). New York City is a 4 hour bus ride from South Station. DC is reachable by train or plane (usually inexpensively). Proximity makes interviewing easier.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Financial_Centres_Index
In terms of best major: The Econ vs. undergrad Business debate is interesting. The “traditional liberal arts model” is
Econ undergrad followed by an MBA. The flip side is a stand alone undergrad business degree or undergrad business plus MBA. The top tier of the industries you are talking about tend to require an MBA. The entry level jobs for undergrads tend to be 2-3 year internships in a support role after which one leaves to get an MBA and then returns. Many drop out along the way. My personal bias is toward Econ undergrad or a “more liberal artsy” business program.
I think it makes for a better compliment to an MBA and standalone it pays bigger dividends over the long run. I base this opinion on an analysis of salary data I performed to assist a similar decision for one of my kids. For top schools that have both undergrad business schools and Econ, Econ majors started at a lower salary, but by mid career had higher salaries.
In terms of Tufts and a business career: For a number of years, Tufts was one of the top schools (independent of size or degree programs) for producing Fortune 100 CEOs (there were 4 at one point - including 2 women). One was CEO of Aramark when it was voted one of America’s most respected companies. One is currently CEO of JP Morgan which was considered the most respected financial company during the recent financial crisis. All of them also have an MBA from a top school. Tufts Econ department also produced the 2013 Nobel Prize winner in Economics- Eugene Fama. He may be the only Econ Nobel Prize winner who performed undergrad research in the same area he won the prize.
In terms of job placement directly out of school: About 10 years ago a group of Tufts Alums in the Finance Industry (most with MBA’s) got together and formed the Tufts Financial Network with a goal of better preparing Tufts grads for direct entry into the Finance Industry. They funded professors with industry experience to create a minor in Finance, created Wall Street Boot Camps, funded an investment club, brought in guest speakers and held recruiting events.
In 2015, the Tufts Investing Club beat teams from the two well known universites down the street in a national investing competition.
http://emerald.tufts.edu/alumni/tfn/
http://tuftsfinancialgroup.com/
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/1795647-tufts-investment-club-places-first-in-national-investing-competition.html
In terms of outcomes, three business related grads have made the Forbes 30 under 30 list in th elast three years.
One manages Katz’s Deli in NY, one founded a high impact non profit, and one co-manages a $9B portfolio for J.P. Morgan. The majors that tend to place the most people into finance/consulting are Quant Econ, Econ and IR. There is also a minor in Entrenprenurial Leadership (the most popular minor) made available through the Gordon Institute as well as the Finance Minor. The Experimental College often offers business courses taught by local industry executives
(including the former GM of the Celtics) and the CS department offers an interdisciplinary course in Game Theory. It is also possible to take courses in International Business at the Fletcher School.
http://gordon.tufts.edu/programs/entrepreneurial-leadership-programhttp://www.excollege.tufts.edu/courses
http://fletcher.tufts.edu/MIB
The majors that tend to place the most in Finance/Consulting are Quant Econ, Econ, and IR, although it is possible place in these fields with an appropriate minor, coursework, and outside activities/internships.
Here is a recent list of outcomes by major:
https://students.tufts.edu/career-center/explore-careers-and-majors/outcomes-major
Best of luck, and feel free to ask more questions!