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Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU George Fox University Willamette University Whitworth University Lewis and Clark Whitman College UWT Lewis-Clark State College Western Washington University Central Washington University| University of Puget Sound | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,914 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #194 | #246 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pugetsound.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $59,340 | $37,965 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $59,340 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,040 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $42,301 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,161 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,548 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 4,232 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.3% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.9% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/31 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1185/1390 | 1050/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 73% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,600 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $264 |
Diversity |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 8% | 8% | ||
| % International | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
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| % In-State | 23% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 26% | ||
Campus |
University of Puget Sound | SPU | ||
| 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
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than University of Puget Sound based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 1,914 students)
University of Puget Sound vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of Puget Sound or SPU?
- University of Puget Sound is 56.3% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($59,340.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- Out of state tuition is 56.3% higher at University of Puget Sound than Seattle Pacific University ($59,340.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than University of Puget Sound ($26,155 vs. $42,301)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Puget Sound are 3% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($15,040 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Puget Sound than Seattle Pacific University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Puget Sound students is 18.1% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($33,161 vs. $28,070)
University of Puget Sound vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of Puget Sound or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or University of Puget Sound .
- Accepted freshman University of Puget Sound students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than University of Puget Sound (76.3%)
University of Puget Sound vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of Puget Sound or SPU? 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 SPU and University of Puget Sound.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than University of Puget Sound (74% vs. 73%)
- Graduates from University of Puget Sound earn on average $7,200 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($57,600 vs. $50,400)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Puget Sound graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than University of Puget Sound graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
- More University of Puget Sound graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/