University of Puget Sound vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between University of Puget Sound and Western Washington University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Puget Sound
Western Washington University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • University of Puget Sound Midsize City
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Puget Sound 1,864
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • University of Puget Sound Private 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Puget Sound #197
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Puget Sound -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • University of Puget Sound Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Puget Sound
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Puget Sound $62,898
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Puget Sound $62,898
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • University of Puget Sound $16,498
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Puget Sound $43,188
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Puget Sound $35,179
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Puget Sound 99%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Puget Sound Calculate
  • Western Washington University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Puget Sound 5,239
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • University of Puget Sound 3,785
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Puget Sound 72.2%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Puget Sound 11.4%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Puget Sound 1280
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Puget Sound 29
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Puget Sound 3.56
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Puget Sound A-
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Puget Sound Very High
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Puget Sound Low
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Puget Sound 27/31
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • University of Puget Sound 1170/1380
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Puget Sound Test optional
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Puget Sound Jan 15, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Puget Sound 10:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Puget Sound
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Puget Sound 73%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Puget Sound $57,600
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Puget Sound 84%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Puget Sound $27,000
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Puget Sound $279
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Puget Sound 41%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • University of Puget Sound 59%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Puget Sound Low
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Puget Sound No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • University of Puget Sound 74%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • University of Puget Sound 6%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • University of Puget Sound 1%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Puget Sound 7%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • University of Puget Sound 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Puget Sound 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Puget Sound 8%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • University of Puget Sound 0%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Puget Sound 2%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Puget Sound 33%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Puget Sound 67%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA with Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Washington University is larger than University of Puget Sound based on total student enrollment (14,710 students vs. 1,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • University of Puget Sound is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Puget Sound 10:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

University of Puget Sound vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Puget Sound or Western Washington University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Washington University than University of Puget Sound ($24,338 vs. $43,188).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 4.6% lower than at University of Puget Sound ($15,747 vs. $16,498).
  • University of Puget Sound is 556.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Washington University (about $53,316 more per year; $62,898.00 vs. $9,582.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119.1% higher at University of Puget Sound than at Western Washington University (about $34,191 more per year; $62,898.00 vs. $28,707.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Puget Sound than at Western Washington University (99% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Puget Sound students is 409.7% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($35,179 vs. $6,902).

University of Puget Sound vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Puget Sound or Western Washington University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Western Washington University and University of Puget Sound.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Puget Sound (1280) is 10 points higher than at Western Washington University (1270).
  • Incoming University of Puget Sound students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Western Washington University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Puget Sound 1170/1380; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Puget Sound 27/31; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Puget Sound - Test optional; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Puget Sound Jan 15, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Puget Sound students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Western Washington University (3.46).
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than University of Puget Sound (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.4% at University of Puget Sound vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

University of Puget Sound vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Puget Sound and Western Washington University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at University of Puget Sound is the same as at Western Washington University (73% vs. 73%).
  • Graduates from University of Puget Sound earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Western Washington University graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $48,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $7,587 lower median loan debt than University of Puget Sound graduates ($19,413 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Puget Sound graduates ($200 vs. $279).
  • More University of Puget Sound graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Washington University 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.