Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Puget Sound #1444 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,477 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Puget Sound in the 7.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Puget Sound #1216 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Puget Sound #1444 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Tacoma, WA, University of Puget Sound enrolls roughly 1,594 undergraduates. Retention is 84.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 68.0%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Where University of Puget Sound performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Puget Sound #1216 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,684, and University of Puget Sound sits in the 7.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Social Sciences and its ability to move graduates into careers with solid long-term financial trajectories. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. University of Puget Sound enrolls 17.3% Pell-eligible students and 12.3% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the institution in the 7.6 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability ranks in the 4.1 percentile, reflecting the institution's private tuition structure and the financial aid policies that reshape net cost for admitted students. For families weighing both affordability and long-term earnings outcomes, University of Puget Sound offers a compact, residential liberal arts experience anchored in strong return on investment.
University of Puget Sound's published cost of attendance is $78,378. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $23,643, middle-income families pay around $31,649, and higher-income families pay approximately $45,456. Azimuth ranks University of Puget Sound #1367 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of Puget Sound's aid structure combines need-based and merit components. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The gap between published sticker price and actual net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the spread across income bands shows how aid intensity varies by family financial circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $52,058; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,684, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Puget Sound is a good fit for students seeking a private liberal arts college experience in the Pacific Northwest, particularly those drawn to the social sciences and humanities. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $59,684, placing University of Puget Sound in the 45.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $17,477 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 7.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based, with 17.3% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 12.3% identifying as first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $45,456, and the institution commits to meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 72.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors the social sciences and humanities — Social Sciences represents 21% of degrees awarded. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong liberal arts education in WA.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Puget Sound hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Puget Sound's published cost of attendance is $78,378. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $23,643, middle-income families pay around $31,649, and higher-income families pay approximately $45,456.
Azimuth ranks University of Puget Sound #1367 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
University of Puget Sound's aid structure combines need-based and merit components. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The gap between published sticker price and actual net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the spread across income bands shows how aid intensity varies by family financial circumstances.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $52,058; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,684, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Puget Sound earn median 4-year earnings of $59,684, placing University of Puget Sound in the 45.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,477 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Puget Sound in the 7.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Puget Sound #1216 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects University of Puget Sound's strength in Social Sciences.
Business Administration is the largest program with 62 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $77,585, at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Political Science program graduates 53 students earning $52,278, while Psychology, General with 41 graduates reaches $61,919.
Communication and Media Studies and Computer Science round out the top programs, with 29 and 26 graduates respectively earning $61,904 and $98,696. This program mix, anchored in Social Sciences, supports consistent outcomes across University of Puget Sound's undergraduate portfolio.
Computer Science
26 graduates
Economics
26 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
62 graduates
Mathematics
15 graduates
Psychology, General
41 graduates
University of Puget Sound's program mix centers on Social Sciences, reflecting its liberal arts tradition. The largest programs by enrollment are Business Administration with 62 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $77,585, followed by Political Science with 53 graduates earning $52,278, Psychology, General with 41 graduates earning $61,919, Communication and Media Studies with 29 graduates earning $61,904, and Computer Science with 26 graduates earning $98,696.
Across ranked programs serving roughly 514 students annually, the earnings distribution reflects the breadth of a liberal arts portfolio. The strongest median earnings outcomes cluster in Computer Science, where 26 graduates earn $98,696 four years after enrollment, followed by Economics with 26 graduates earning $81,082, Business Administration with 62 graduates earning $77,585, Psychology, General with 41 graduates earning $61,919, and Communication and Media Studies with 29 graduates earning $61,904.
These fields represent the institution's most economically productive pathways. University of Puget Sound's program-mix signature — anchored in Social Sciences at 21%, Business at 12%, and other STEM fields at 4% — reflects the institution's identity as a liberal arts college with particular depth in humanities and social inquiry.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida College Similar quality tier (#36245 ranked) | FL | 70% | $43,445 | #36245 | Compare |
Corban University Similar quality tier in West (#36249 ranked) | OR | 94% | $48,917 | #36249 | Compare |
Wilson College Similar quality tier (#36244 ranked) | PA | 92% | $43,326 | #36244 | Compare |
Sarah Lawrence College Similar quality tier (#36243 ranked) | NY | 62% | $53,603 | #36243 | Compare |
College For Creative Studies Similar quality tier (#36253 ranked) | MI | 92% | $44,860 | #36253 | Compare |
