University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington · Private Nonprofit · 72.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
University of Puget Sound posts an overall ROI score of 62 in the Fair Value (blue) tier, a respectable result for a small private liberal-arts college with a $62,898 sticker price. The headline tension is between a high-quality academic experience and a tough cost structure: net price runs $38,394 per year, putting four-year cost at roughly $153,576 even after typical aid. The 8.5-year payback period is reasonable for a private college thanks to strong wage outcomes - $69,594 at the ten-year mark and a 22.5% earnings premium over typical high school grads. Median debt of $25,000 against $40,200 six-year earnings drives a 0.622 debt-to-earnings ratio, which is on the higher side. The brightest signal is repayment behavior: 84.8% of borrowers are reducing principal three years out, and that climbs to 91% at seven years - meaning Puget Sound graduates do, eventually, service their loans. Completion rate is solid at 68.0%. The institution is doing what selective liberal-arts colleges typically do well (graduate students, send them to grad school, eventually produce strong long-run earnings) and what they typically do poorly (justifying high net price against modest 1-4 year earnings).
University of Puget Sound
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $62,898/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $62,898/yr |
| Average net price | $38,394/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $153,576 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,594 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,594 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Puget Sound is $62,898/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $38,394/year, or roughly $153,576 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,643/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $45,456/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $69,594 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.62 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,643 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,133 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $31,649 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $34,870 |
| $110,001+ | $45,456 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $23,643 per year and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $23,133 - roughly $94,000 across four years. That is a substantial figure for low-income families, and the institutional aid here, while real, does not bring net price into the affordable range that some other private liberal-arts colleges achieve at this income level. Pell-eligible students should compare carefully against Western Washington and other Washington publics.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$110,000) pay $31,649 to $34,870 per year, putting four-year cost in the $127,000-$140,000 range. Combined with $25,000 of typical debt, this is the bracket that experiences the steepest practical strain. The math improves considerably if a student majors in computer science, business, or economics; it deteriorates quickly for humanities tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households over $110,000 pay $45,456 per year, which is roughly $182,000 across four years - close to full sticker. At this price, the financial calculus has to be evaluated against directly comparable selective liberal-arts options. Families in this bracket may find better long-run ROI at flagship state universities or at SLACs with larger merit-aid budgets.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Puget Sound with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $77,585 | C+ |
| International Relations | $52,278 | D |
| Psychology | $61,919 | F |
| Biology | $52,645 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $46,112 | F |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | $55,690 | C+ |
| History | $60,458 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $61,904 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,234 | D |
| Economics | $81,082 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer science is Puget Sound's clear ROI leader. Median first-year earnings of $66,055 and four-year earnings of $98,696 are excellent for a small liberal-arts CS program. The 0.378 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B grade. With only 19 graduates per year, this is a small but high-impact pipeline; graduates feed into Seattle-area tech employers including Microsoft, Amazon, and the broader Pacific Northwest startup scene.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the largest program at 68 graduates yearly. First-year earnings of $49,106 climb to $77,585 by year four, a strong trajectory. Median debt of $26,442 yields a 0.538 ratio and a C+ grade - the cost structure pulls down what is otherwise solid earnings data. Career paths cluster in Seattle/Tacoma corporate operations, finance, and consulting roles.
Economics
Economics graduates 22 students annually with $48,153 first-year and $81,082 four-year earnings, the highest 4-year figure outside CS. Median debt of $26,031 produces a 0.541 ratio and a C+ grade. This program is a genuine pre-professional pipeline; graduates pursuing finance, consulting, or graduate school in economics see strong long-run outcomes that ratios alone underweight.
International Relations
International relations produces 46 graduates yearly - one of the largest cohorts on campus - with $31,290 first-year and $52,278 four-year earnings. The 0.729 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D grade. The cost-to-earnings math here is hard at full freight; students drawn to this major should plan for graduate study, foreign-service or NGO entry, and accept that earnings recovery is slow in early career.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 43 students with $25,596 first-year earnings on $27,000 of debt, producing a 1.055 ratio and an F grade. Four-year earnings recover to $61,919, suggesting graduate degrees drive most of the wage gain. This is a clear case where the bachelor's-only outcome does not service the debt, and a graduate plan is essential before enrollment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 87.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 72.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-710 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-31 |
| Enrollment | 1,594 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,726 |
Puget Sound admits 72.3% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 560-670 Math and 610-710 Reading and ACT 27-31. These bands indicate solid academic preparation - well above national averages but not at the level of the most selective liberal-arts colleges. The combination of moderate selectivity and strong test scores aligns with the 68% completion rate: students arrive prepared but the institution is still admitting a wider band than peer SLACs that complete 80%+.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Puget Sound's peer set is mixed. Gonzaga University in Spokane is the closest Pacific Northwest analog and posts notably stronger ROI thanks to a heavier pre-professional mix and larger scale. Cornish College of the Arts and Saint Mary's College are smaller arts and Catholic options with weaker financial outcomes. Luther College in Iowa is a strong mission peer. AdventHealth University is a healthcare-only specialty school and not a meaningful comparison. Among the genuine peers, Puget Sound sits in the middle on ROI, behind Gonzaga but ahead of the arts-focused options.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puget Sound (this school) | 62 | $38,394 | $69,594 |
| Gonzaga University | 81 | $35,119 | $78,892 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Saint Mary's College | 62 | $25,292 | $59,354 |
| Luther College | 60 | $23,097 | $59,850 |
| Cornish College of the Arts | 17 | $40,062 | $33,696 |
Who Thrives Here
Puget Sound fits academically prepared students who want a small (1,594 enrollment) Pacific Northwest residential liberal-arts experience and who either have strong family resources or are confident about pursuing graduate school. Pell rate is just 17.3%, the lowest of the brackets covered here, and the campus serves a more affluent student body than most schools at this score level. Outcomes are strongest for computer science, business, and economics graduates; humanities and arts graduates face debt-to-earnings ratios above 1.0 and should plan accordingly.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Puget Sound offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $38,394 per year leads to $153,576 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $69,594 a decade out. The payback period of 8.5 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: a 68.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 against $69,594 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.