University of Puget Sound — College Profile

About

Located in Tacoma, Washington, the University of Puget Sound is a premier independent liberal arts college renowned for its stunning, forested Tudor Gothic campus and its exceptionally strong programs in the natural sciences, business and leadership, and music. The campus culture is defined by highly collaborative, outdoorsy, and socially conscious students who take full advantage of the Pacific Northwest through active involvement in sustainability initiatives, community service, and outdoor adventures. What truly sets the university apart is its commitment to hands-on education, which is cemented by a distinctive experiential learning graduation requirement and the "Passages" wilderness orientation program that helps incoming students build deep connections before classes even begin.

Wikipedia:The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1888. The institution offers a variety of undergraduate degrees as well as five graduate programs in counseling, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and public health.

Location

Tacoma, WA, 98416 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

SEA · Seattle

15 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$62,898

Housing & food (on campus)$16,498

Books & supplies$1,000

Cost of attendance$90,766

Average net price$38,394

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$62,898

Housing & food (on campus)$16,498

Books & supplies$1,000

Cost of attendance$90,766

Average net price$38,394

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.pugetsound.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

University of Puget Sound’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$67,550

Fees$638

Housing$9,854

Food$8,180

Books & supplies$1,000

Personal expenses$2,124

Transportation$1,420

Total published by the school$90,766

Source: www.pugetsound.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$23,643

$30–48k

$23,133

$48–75k

$31,649

$75–110k

$34,870

$110k+

$45,456

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2024-25

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$30,447

First-years who got one153

Source: University of Puget Sound's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

68%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

Back for yr 2

84%

Transferred

19%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

75% graduated · 20% transferred · 5% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$46,802

10 yrs after entry$69,594

Debt

Median at graduation$25,000

Monthly payment$265

Middle 50% owe$6k–$29k

90th percentile$39,750

Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — arts & sciences: $58,391 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

72%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1296

R 610–710 · M 560–670

ACT midpoint

Comp 27–31 · E 25–30 · M 23–29

SAT middle 50%: 1170–1380

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If University of Puget Sound asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 44%Women 56%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

10 : 1

Pell grant

17%

First-gen

12%

Family income

$90,104

Independent

11%

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

66%

Hispanic

11%

Black

Asian

Two or more

AI/AN

NH/PI

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Women's
Rowing
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$46,802

After 10 yrs

$69,594

Business Administration, Management and Operations68

Political Science and Government46

Psychology, General43

Biology, General37

Natural Resources Conservation and Research26

Biological and Physical Sciences25

Communication and Media Studies24

History24

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness23

Economics22

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics20

Computer Science19

Sociology and Anthropology17

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences16

International Relations and National Security Studies16

Religion/Religious Studies14

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$471M

Full-time faculty

75%

Faculty salary

$10,726/mo

Teaching spend

$23,433

per student

Federal loans

43%

Classification

Carnegie type

Baccalaureate — arts & sciences

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions

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