University of Puget Sound vs. Washington State

Should I go to University of Puget Sound or Washington State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Puget Sound or Washington State 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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University of Puget Sound vs. Washington State University comparison
University of Puget Sound Washington State University College 3 College 4
University of Puget Sound Washington State University
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Overview

University of Puget Sound Washington State
Location Tacoma, WA Pullman, WA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,914 26,490
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #194 #385
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pugetsound.edu wsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Puget Sound Washington State
Tuition (In State) $59,340 $10,976
Tuition (Out of State) $59,340 $27,052
Room & Board $15,040 $13,131
Avg Net Price $42,301 $18,155
Avg Grant Aid $33,161 $10,370
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 87%

Admission

University of Puget Sound Washington State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,548 26,166
Admitted 4,232 22,335
Acceptance Rate 76.3% 85.4%
Enrolled % 10.9% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/31 20/26
SAT Range 1185/1390 1020/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Jan 31, 2026

Academics

University of Puget Sound Washington State
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

University of Puget Sound Washington State
Graduation Rate 73% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,600 $54,400
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,429
Median Loan Payment $279 $211

Diversity

University of Puget Sound Washington State
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 11% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 63%
% Black 1% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 8% 8%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

University of Puget Sound Washington State
% In-State 23% 83%
% Out-of-State 77% 15%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Washington State University is larger than than University of Puget Sound based on total student enrollment (26,490 students vs. 1,914 students)

University of Puget Sound vs. Washington State Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Puget Sound is 440.6% more expensive to attend than Washington State for in-state tuition ($59,340.00 vs. $10,976.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 119.4% higher at University of Puget Sound than Washington State University ($59,340.00 vs. $27,052.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington State University than University of Puget Sound ($18,155 vs. $42,301)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 14.5% lower than costs at University of Puget Sound ($13,131 vs. $15,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Puget Sound than Washington State University (99% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Puget Sound students is 219.8% larger than aid received Washington State University ($33,161 vs. $10,370)

University of Puget Sound vs. Washington State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman University of Puget Sound students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Washington State (3.5)
  • Washington State has a higher acceptance rate (85.4%) than University of Puget Sound (76.3%)

University of Puget Sound vs. Washington State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Puget Sound or Washington State? 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 Washington State and University of Puget Sound.

  • The graduation rate at University of Puget Sound is higher than Washington State University (73% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from University of Puget Sound earn on average $3,200 more per year than Washington State graduates after ten years. ($57,600 vs. $54,400)
  • Washington State University students graduate with a $6,571 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Puget Sound graduates. ($20,429 vs. $27,000)
  • Washington State graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than University of Puget Sound graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
  • More University of Puget Sound graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Washington State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 71%)

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