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Tacoma , WA
The University of Puget Sound, located in Tacoma, Washington, is a private liberal arts college renowned for its academic excellence and focus on student engagement. Founded in 1888, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, and music. With a low student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, students receive personalized attention from highly qualified professors who are committed to their success.
The campus of University of Puget Sound is spread over 97 acres, providing a picturesque and vibrant learning environment. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, laboratories, and a well-equipped library. The university also offers a variety of extracurricular activities and organizations, encouraging students to explore their passions and form lasting connections outside the classroom.
At Puget Sound, there is a strong emphasis on experiential learning, encouraging students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world situations. Internships, research opportunities, and community engagement projects are all integral parts of the educational experience. The university's commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through its support of multicultural student organizations and initiatives, creating a welcoming and inclusive campus for all students. Overall, University of Puget Sound provides a comprehensive liberal arts education that prepares students for success in their chosen professions and fosters a lifelong love of learning.
Located in Tacoma, WA and set in an urban environment, University of Puget Sound is a private university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 72%. The freshman retention rate at University of Puget Sound is 84.02% and the six-year graduation rate is 68%.
The transfer application deadline is July 15.
To find out more about what University of Puget Sound has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
1,594
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$65,270
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
68%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you find out as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Here are the most important facts you have to know about admission at University of Puget Sound.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,785 in 2025. University of Puget Sound has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
31% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 10% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 24% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 44% between 1,200 and 1,399, 27% between 1,000 and 1,199, 4% between 800 and 999, and 0.74% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 39, 54 between 24-29, 7 in the range between 18-23, and 3 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 29 while the average GPA was 3.63. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Puget Sound; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 636 and an average SAT Math score of 621. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is July 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for University of Puget Sound was 84.02%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 68%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 1,864 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 70.7. There was a total of 1,594 undergrad students, including 7 international students. The school admitted a total of 66 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 741 male and 1,050 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. 43 full-time graduate men and 178 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 108, and the number of Afro-American students was 50. 181 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 145 identified with more than one race. The school also had 9 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 9 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 32 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some important facts on University of Puget Sound costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at University of Puget Sound? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $65,270 for all full-time domestic students. As this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $616.
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at University of Puget Sound amounted to $16,450 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 added up to $8,660 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $9,526.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 65,270 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,450 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 82,720 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at University of Puget Sound.
The most recent records show that 277 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $53,518 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
860 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 863. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $2,971,246, and state $1,320,602. The students of University of Puget Sound received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $36,429,734, and external in the amount of $1,342,333.
$28,971
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 140 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Puget Sound in 2025. 44 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $20,175,250. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,202,493 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at University of Puget Sound was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 243 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 95 men and 148 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at University of Puget Sound.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at University of Puget Sound: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at University of Puget Sound.
It has a campus size of 97 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 23% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 22 for female students. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Relay for Life, followed by Student Theatre Productions and Ka Ohana me ke Aloha. Other popular student organizations at this school are Repertory Dance Group and Puget Sound Outdoors.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? University of Puget Sound publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Puget Sound offers a number of services vital for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at University of Puget Sound is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Puget Sound.
Career Counselling
At University of Puget Sound, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, WA.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for University of Puget Sound is 65,270 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for University of Puget Sound is 72%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of Puget Sound is 84.02%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.