University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington · Private Nonprofit · 72.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Puget Sound posts an overall ROI score of 62 in the Fair Value tier. 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. 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 |
| Average 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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $62,898/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $38,394/year, or roughly $153,576 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $23,643/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $45,456/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,200) and comes to 0.62, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 at this income level.
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.
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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 87.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Puget Sound’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
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. The combination of moderate selectivity and strong test scores aligns with the 68% completion rate: students arrive prepared.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| 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%. 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 is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $38,394 a year after aid ($153,576 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $69,594 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 68.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Puget Sound: Common Questions
Is University of Puget Sound worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Puget Sound is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $38,394 a year after aid ($153,576 over four years) against $69,594 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Puget Sound cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $38,394 a year, or roughly $153,576 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Puget Sound graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $69,594 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,794 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Puget Sound?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.5 years for University of Puget Sound. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Puget Sound graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $40,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Puget Sound?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.