The Presidential Medal was created in 1976 by Tufts President Jean Mayer and is awarded to individuals and/or institutions whom the University wishes to honor in a special way.
| Recipient | Date/Year Awarded |
| City of Medford | 1976 |
| City of Somerville | 1976 |
| Frederick Johnson | 1977 |
| Herbert Black, A33 | 1977 |
| Dr. Louis Weinstein | 1977 |
| Joel Warren Reynolds, E23, G48, J49P, J51P, J53P, J67P | 1978 |
| Janyce Pickett Willmann | 1979 |
| James B. Moseley, J86P | 1979 |
| Sumner R. Andrews | 1981 |
| Dr. Ralph R. Lopez | 1982 |
| Elizabeth Cabot, H56W | 1983 |
| Dr. C.S. Loh, H87, D83P | 1984 |
| Captain Frederick H. Hauck, U.S.N. (Ret.), A62, A87P, J92P | 1985 |
| Theodore L. Eliot, Jr. | 1985 |
| Brooks T. Johnson, A56 | October 25, 1985 |
| Eberhard Karls University | November 18, 1985 |
| Mayor Eugene C. Brune | May 17, 1987 |
| Milton J. Meyers, DMD, D40 | April 7, 1988 (posthumous) |
| Institut National des Sciences Appliquees | May 22, 1988 |
| Stephanie Green Lawson, J73, A08P | May 3, 1991 |
| Allan D. Callow, A38, AG48, AG52, H87 | May 21, 1994 |
| Dr. Bernard M. Gordon, H92 | November 5, 1999 |
| Dr. Gerald J. Friedman | October 5, 2001 |
| Dorothy R. Friedman | October 5, 2001 |
| Dr. Thomas W. Murnane, A58, D62, DG65, AG68, J97P | June 17, 2003 |
| Henry J. Leir | May 3, 2004 (posthumous) |
| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh | November 11, 2005 |
| Sir Horace Kadoorie International Foundation | September 12, 2007 |
| Vivian Merrin, A80P A82P A85P | October 26, 2010 |
| Edward Merrin, A50 A80P A82P A85P A85P | October 26, 2010 |
| U.S. Ambassador Alan D. Solomont, A70, A08P | November 13, 2010 |
| Brian O’Connell | December 6, 2010 |
| Dr. Peter Ackerman, F69, FG71, FG76, A03P, F03P | May 10, 2011 |
| Michael Jaharis, M87P | May 20, 2011 |
| Richard A. Smith, J82P | June 23, 2011 |
| Susan F. Smith, J82P | June 23, 2011 |
| Martin J. Granoff, A91P | July 1, 2011 |
| Brian K. Lee, A08P, A11P | February 10, 2012 |
Last updated: February 10, 2012
