Founded in 1888 in a vibrant port city in the Pacific Northwest, University of Puget Sound is an independent, residential, and predominantly undergraduate liberal arts college, with graduate programs in education and health sciences. Our beautiful 97-acre campus supports connection with the world it serves, from the tide flats of Tacoma to the Pacific Rim and beyond. A Puget Sound education is rooted in an inspiring confluence of histories and cultures and ideas, and centered on our 2,300 students who are open-minded, outward-reaching, and passionate about putting their educations to work. Guided by our motto To the Heights, we seek to educate the whole person, and to give each student space to discover and room to rise to meet new challenges both locally and globally. Puget Sound offers a small community of independent thinkers, a launch pad for adventurers, and an incubator for entrepreneurs. We are makers, shakers, and doers—and we never stop learning.
University of Puget Sound is a private, nonprofit school in the urban setting of Tacoma, Washington. University of Puget Sound was founded in 1888 and the school enrolls around 2,178 students a year, including 1,866 undergraduates. University of Puget Sound ensures housing for up to 1,741 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing.
📆 Mark your calendar! The deadline to apply regular decision to University of Puget Sound for Fall 2023 is January 15. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should find out if they have been admitted by March 15.
Student Involvement at University of Puget Sound
Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of University of Puget Sound's theater groups.
Interested in journalism or communications? University of Puget Sound students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
Excited for Greek life? University of Puget Sound has fraternities and sororities.
Planning to play sports? University of Puget Sound has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at University of Puget Sound on the Student Life page.
2022 University of Puget Sound Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 88% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | 51% |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA Offered but % not available |
Average GPA | 3.6 |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 31% |
Tuition | $57,330 |
Percent of Need Met | 83% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $43,350 |
The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.
Let's take a closer look at these factors to get a better sense of what University of Puget Sound offers and if it seems like the right college for you.
It is moderately difficult to get into University of Puget Sound. University of Puget Sound admitted 88% of all applicants in 2022. Last year, 5,025 students applied to University of Puget Sound and 4,437 were admitted.
Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It gauges how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Approximately 88% of students who start at University of Puget Sound come back for their second year of college. University of Puget Soundhas a six year graduation rate of 74 for undergrads. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.
Job placement stats are a good resource for understanding the value of a degree from University of Puget Sound by providing a look on how job placement has gone for other grads.
Check with University of Puget Sound directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.
An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.
University of Puget Sound's endowment was valued at $378.6 million in 2022, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, University of Puget Sound spends about $19,896 a year.
Tuition is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.
University of Puget Sound meets 83% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $43,350 a year.
The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2022 was around $28,069 per student, not including those with no debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022
Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at University of Puget Sound.
Based on this information, how does University of Puget Sound sound? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is University of Puget Sound a good school for you?
If University of Puget Sound seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
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University of Puget Sound Community Forums
Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting into some of the most selective schools in the U.S.
University of Puget Sound is located in the urban setting of Tacoma, Washington, less than an hour from Seattle.
If you want to see University of Puget Sound for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 5 to Tacoma, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Seattle-Tacoma International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what University of Puget Sound and Tacoma are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in Washington and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to University of Puget Sound is Jan 15.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to University of Puget Sound is Mar 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
32 and Above
27 to 32
27 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to University of Puget Sound is 29. Students with an ACT score of 32 and above have a good chance of getting into University of Puget Sound. Students with an ACT score that falls between 27 and 32 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 27 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
Tuition & Fees
$70,620
In State$70,620
Out-of-StateWondering what life at University of Puget Sound is like? There are approximately 2,173 students enrolled at University of Puget Sound, including 1,866 undergraduate students and 307 graduate students. 98% percent of students attend school full-time, 29% percent are from WA and 71% percent of students are from other states.
98%
Full Time2%
Part Time29%
In State71%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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