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University of Puget Sound

Liaison Partner

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. Its campus spans 97 acres. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 82%. The freshman retention rate at University of Puget Sound is 78.73% and the six-year graduation rate is 76%.

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

1,728

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

82%

Acceptance Rate

$57,330

Tuition

9:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

76%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

If you discover as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. Here are the most essential information you have to know about admission at University of Puget Sound.

According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,418 in 2022. University of Puget Sound has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides 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

34% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 14% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 19.12% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 53.68% between 1,200 and 1,399, 22.06% between 1,000 and 1,199, 4.41% of the students 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 49.09, 41.82 between 24-29, 5.45 in the range between 18-23, and 3.64 between 12-17.

The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2022 was 29 while the average GPA was 3.59. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.

The SAT Critical Reading average score was 636 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 621. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 15.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.

The freshman retention rate for University of Puget Sound was 78.73% in 2022, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 76%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.

Student Body

Making the choice of which school is the best match for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.

Main Student Body

In 2022, the school had an enrollment of 2,039 students.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 71% for that year. There was a total of 1,728 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 11 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 39.

Student Population Gender Ratio

The student body is coeducational, with 794 male and 1,140 female full-time students in 2022, 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

Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.

In 2022, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 116, and the number of Afro-American students was 51. 198 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 148 identified with more than one race. The school also had 10 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 5 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 46 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some important information on University of Puget Sound costs that most students encounter at this school.

Tuition and Fees

Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about University of Puget Sound estimated tuition costs.

As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $57,330 in 2022. University of Puget Sound is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $296 in 2022.

Books and Supplies

Another important financial factor to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to allocate about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at University of Puget Sound.

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?

The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at University of Puget Sound was $14,770 in 2022. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2022 amounted to $7,700 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $7,700.

Tuition $ 57,330
Room and Board $ 14,770
Book and Supplies $ 1,000
Total Expense $ 73,100

Financial Aid

Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for a number of students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at University of Puget Sound.

According to the most recent data, 252 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $45,805.

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.

There were 879 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 883. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $2,244,422, and state $1,243,930. The students of University of Puget Sound received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $30,996,956, and external in the amount of $1,181,827.

$25,093

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for 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.

148 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2022. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 49 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $19,547,480. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $768,833 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).

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)

Transfer Fall (classes begin September 2, 2025)

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Transfer Spring (classes begin January 2025)

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Majors

Faculty

9:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.

In 2022, this ratio at University of Puget Sound was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 262 faculty members. This number included 106 male and 156 female faculty members. 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

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Campus Life

Not everything at University of Puget Sound is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about campus life at University of Puget Sound.

Student Organizations

Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.

This number 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 organizations among the students at University of Puget Sound are Repertory Dance Group and Puget Sound Outdoors.

If you're a fan of the performing arts, there is a drama club you can get involved in. You have a talent for media and communication? University of Puget Sound publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.

Student Services

At University of Puget Sound, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.

There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.

This school has 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 a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

FAQ

University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, WA.

The overall full-time tuition per academic year for University of Puget Sound is 57,330 USD, based on the most recent data.

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.

According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of Puget Sound is 82%.

The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of Puget Sound is 78.73%.

Contact Information

University of Puget Sound,

1500 North Warner Street

Tacoma, WA

98416

253 879-3100

School Website

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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