Tufts University is a private research university in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. A charter member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), Tufts College was founded in 1852 by Christian universalists who worked for years to open a nonsectarian institution of higher learning.[6] For more than a century, Tufts was a small New England liberal arts college until its transformation into a larger research university in the 1970s.[7] The university emphasizes active citizenship and public service in all of its disciplines,[8] and is known for its internationalism and study abroad programs.[9] From a nationwide perspective, U.S. News & World Report categorizes Tufts as "most selective," which is the highest degree of selectivity the magazine offers.[10] In addition, Tufts is considered one of the Hidden Ivies of the Northeastern United States.