C+
Above Average
Score: 56/100
Overall (traditional)
B+
Outcome Rating
74/100 · earnings-weighted

University of Puget Sound

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Tacoma, Washington 98416
University of Puget Sound campus, Tacoma, WA
University of Puget Sound campus, Tacoma, WA. Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B+
78/100
Affordability
F
16/100
Resources
C+
61/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
D
33/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,914
Total Enrollment
68%
Graduation Rate
80%
Retention Rate
10.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
76%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of Puget Sound, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$69,594
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$46,802
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$25,000
Median debt at graduation
68%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,296
Average SAT
29
Median ACT
17.3%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 36% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 76th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (WA wage index 1.18). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of Puget Sound

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$66,055$98,696-8%#178 of 349#244$25,000
Economics$48,153$81,082-2%#174 of 368#223$25,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations$49,106$77,585+14%#187 of 1176#350$26,000
Mathematics$37,610$75,462+8%#113 of 309#163$22,000
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies$22,192$65,986+18%#35 of 207#52—
Psychology$25,596$61,919+22%#71 of 1027#164$27,000
Communication and Media Studies$29,477$61,904+10%#129 of 660#239$27,000
History$29,909$60,458+19%#52 of 459#107$20,000
Area Studies$29,232$57,407+1%#35 of 70#39$27,000
Education$20,039$57,205+15%#14 of 71#25$27,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$25,035$56,052+2%#114 of 225#163$27,000
Biological and Physical Sciences—$55,690-5%#27 of 33#27$26,629
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics—$53,792+4%#8 of 24#13$27,000
Biology$30,191$52,645-8%#607 of 841#757$24,309
Political Science and Government$31,290$52,278-17%#481 of 565#539$22,801
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$22,260$52,234-4%#337 of 610#500$21,646
English Language and Literature$29,291$50,690+4%#224 of 576#362$27,000
Sociology and Anthropology$19,495$48,940+4%#5 of 9#5$25,000
International Relations and National Security Studies$28,176$47,734-28%#113 of 118#117$25,798
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$16,310$46,791+18%#30 of 255#82—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$23,437$46,112-16%#247 of 265#260$24,623
Fine and Studio Arts$28,469$43,032+4%#171 of 423#270$26,022
Music$25,551$41,207-4%#166 of 268#207$27,000
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$22,251$38,871-20%#122 of 137#128$26,998
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$25,623$37,553-27%#101 of 103#102$21,215
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$35,822—————
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$20,916—————
Religion/Religious Studies$20,357—————
International/Globalization Studies$16,037—————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The University of Puget Sound Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 98402 (3.2% cap, Tacoma)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $59,340 $59,340
Room $8,766
Board $7,740
Total Cost (On-Campus) $78,564 $78,564

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
16%
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

1,914
Total Students
59%
Women
96%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 66%
Hispanic 10%
Black 3%
Asian 8%
Two or More 9%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 100%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 96%
25-64 (Adult) 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of Puget Sound?
University of Puget Sound has an acceptance rate of 76%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend University of Puget Sound?
Tuition at University of Puget Sound is $59,340 for in-state students and $59,340 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at University of Puget Sound?
The graduation rate at University of Puget Sound is 68%. This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is University of Puget Sound a good school?
University of Puget Sound has a Repit College Score of 56/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of Puget Sound?
University of Puget Sound has a total enrollment of 1,914 students. Most students (96%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of Puget Sound — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to University of Puget Sound

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
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C+
Walla Walla University
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C+
Pacific Lutheran University
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C+
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · 2,659 students
C
Bastyr University
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Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA · 1,505 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology