University of Puget Sound
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Why University of Puget Sound Matters
University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college in Tacoma, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,594
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose University of Puget Sound
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 72% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1170–1380. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $38,394 a year after grants and scholarships — 124% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $69,594 ten years after enrolling — 71% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 90% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 1,600 students and a 72% acceptance rate, the University of Puget Sound welcomes those who are looking for a close-knit community where they can explore a range of disciplines. Students here often dive into programs like Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, and Biology & Biomedical. This school suits those who value a liberal arts education and want to engage deeply with their studies while enjoying the vibrant culture of Tacoma, Washington.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $69,594 within ten years, which is a solid indicator of the potential return on investment for their education. The affordability factor is crucial here, especially since the net price after aid stands at $38,394. With a median debt of $25,000, graduates leave with a manageable financial burden, setting them up for success in their careers.
In terms of who tends to thrive at Puget Sound, individuals who take advantage of the community experience and actively participate in campus life often find their niche. The school attracts those who appreciate smaller class sizes and personalized attention from faculty, which can enhance their learning and lead to better outcomes post-graduation. It's a place for students who want to engage both academically and socially, ensuring that they build meaningful connections along the way.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Puget Sound is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Puget Sound? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Tacoma, Washington, University of Puget Sound keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 72% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,296. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Puget Sound? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Puget Sound, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $62,898 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $38,394 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,643 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Puget Sound Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Puget Sound earn a median of $69,594, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Puget Sound Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Puget Sound is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.74%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 2.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $129,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Puget Sound produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 28 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Puget Sound awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Puget Sound's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Puget Sound? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a private institution in Tacoma, Washington, University of Puget Sound keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 72% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,296. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Puget Sound? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Puget Sound, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $62,898 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $38,394 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,643 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,000.
Is University of Puget Sound Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of University of Puget Sound earn a median of $69,594, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does University of Puget Sound Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
University of Puget Sound is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.74%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 2.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $129,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Puget Sound? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Puget Sound, with an economic connectedness score of 1.82 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Puget Sound.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Puget Sound? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Puget Sound, with an economic connectedness score of 1.82 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.