Pacific vs. University of Puget Sound

Should I go to Pacific University or University of Puget Sound? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Pacific or University of Puget Sound is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Pacific University vs. University of Puget Sound comparison
Pacific University University of Puget Sound College 3 College 4
Pacific University University of Puget Sound
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Overview

Pacific University of Puget Sound
Location Forest Grove, OR Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 3,559 2,023
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #354 #182
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pacificu.edu pugetsound.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pacific University of Puget Sound
Tuition (In State) $50,884 $57,330
Tuition (Out of State) $50,884 $57,330
Room & Board $14,408 $14,430
Avg Net Price $33,472 $41,363
Avg Grant Aid $33,340 $32,482
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Pacific University of Puget Sound
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,759 5,345
Admitted 2,546 4,418
Acceptance Rate 92.3% 82.7%
Enrolled % 15.4% 9.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 27/32
SAT Range 1010/1350 1170/1390
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 25, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Pacific University of Puget Sound
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Pacific University of Puget Sound
Graduation Rate 61% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,800 $57,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,156 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $270 $279

Diversity

Pacific University of Puget Sound
% Men 32% 40%
% Women 68% 60%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 52% 74%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 13% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 3% 0%
% Two or More Races 12% 8%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Pacific University of Puget Sound
% In-State 38% 23%
% Out-of-State 61% 76%

Campus

Pacific University of Puget Sound
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Pacific University is larger than than University of Puget Sound based on total student enrollment (3,559 students vs. 2,023 students)

Pacific vs. University of Puget Sound Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pacific or University of Puget Sound?

  • University of Puget Sound is 12.7% more expensive to attend than Pacific for in-state tuition ($57,330.00 vs. $50,884.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.7% higher at University of Puget Sound than Pacific University ($57,330.00 vs. $50,884.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific University than University of Puget Sound ($33,472 vs. $41,363)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific University are 0.2% lower than costs at University of Puget Sound ($14,408 vs. $14,430)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Puget Sound than Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific University students is 2.6% larger than aid received University of Puget Sound ($33,340 vs. $32,482)

Pacific vs. University of Puget Sound Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pacific or University of Puget Sound? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Puget Sound or Pacific .

  • Accepted freshman Pacific students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at University of Puget Sound (3.56)
  • Pacific has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than University of Puget Sound (82.7%)

Pacific vs. University of Puget Sound Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pacific or University of Puget Sound? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of Puget Sound and Pacific.

  • The graduation rate at University of Puget Sound is higher than Pacific University (73% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Puget Sound earn on average $10,800 more per year than Pacific graduates after ten years. ($57,600 vs. $46,800)
  • Pacific University students graduate with a $844 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Puget Sound graduates. ($26,156 vs. $27,000)
  • Pacific graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than University of Puget Sound graduates. ($270 vs. $279)
  • More University of Puget Sound graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/