
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in Tacoma, Washington, United States. Founded in 1888, it offers a variety of undergraduate degrees and graduate programs in fields such as counselling, education, occupational therapy, and public health. With a campus size of 97 acres, the university provides a range of residence halls and academic programs, including the School of Music and the School of Business and Leadership. The University of Puget Sound is recognised for its academic excellence, ranking highly in National Liberal Arts Colleges and Best Value Schools.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Institution | Private liberal arts college |
| Location | Tacoma, Washington, United States |
| Founding Year | 1888 |
| Campus Size | 97 acres |
| Student-Faculty Ratio | 10:1 or 11:1 |
| Enrollment | 1,632 (fall 2023) |
| Varsity Sports | 23 |
| Academic Calendar | Semester-based |
| Tuition and Fees | $62,898 |
| Financial Aid | 54% of first-year students receive need-based financial aid |
| Graduation Rate | 60% (four-year) |
| Median Salary for Graduates | $46,802 (six years after graduation) |
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What You'll Learn
- The University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, Washington, USA
- It was founded in 1888 and is a private liberal arts college
- The campus is 97 acres and has a Tudor-Gothic architectural style
- It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and has a student-faculty ratio of 10:1
- The university is ranked #95 in National Liberal Arts Colleges and #81 in Best Value Schools

The University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, Washington, USA
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college, offering a variety of undergraduate degrees, as well as graduate programs in counselling, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and public health. The college features an intellectually lively and academically motivated community, with a student-faculty ratio of 10:1 or 11:1, depending on the source. The college guarantees that every student will have at least one experiential learning opportunity, including study abroad, independent research, internships, and community-based learning.
The University of Puget Sound has a rich history, with the idea for a college in Tacoma originating with Charles Henry Fowler, who had been president of Northwestern University. The college was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, although it later divested its attachment to the Methodist Church in 1980. The beginnings of the school were marked by moral conviction, with students warned against intoxicating liquors, gambling, and tobacco use. The college has had a turbulent financial history, with no endowment and a struggle to pay professors, which led to three relocations in 13 years.
The campus of the University of Puget Sound is made up of mainly brick buildings in the Tudor-Gothic architectural style, with buildings arranged into quads. The three main quads are the North Quad, the South Quad, and the Karlen Quad. The campus has a range of residence halls, including traditional halls, suite-style living, campus houses, and Greek housing. The campus also features Harned Hall, a 51,000-square-foot building with labs for biology, geology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics, as well as a courtyard and a glass gazebo.
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It was founded in 1888 and is a private liberal arts college
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1888 by the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the Pacific Northwest. The college is located on an intimate and inviting campus between the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, along the shores of the Puget Sound near the creative urban centre of Tacoma. The campus covers 97 acres and is made up mainly of brick buildings in the Tudor-Gothic architectural style.
The University of Puget Sound offers a variety of undergraduate degrees as well as graduate programs in counselling, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and public health. The college features an intellectually lively and academically motivated community, with a student-faculty ratio of 10:1 or 11:1, depending on the source. This means small class sizes and close, personal attention from faculty members. More than 1,200 classes are offered each year in more than 50 traditional and interdisciplinary areas of study.
The college has a strong focus on experiential learning, with every student guaranteed at least one opportunity to study abroad, engage in independent research, participate in an internship, or pursue community-based learning. Puget Sound students are consistently among the leading recipients of prestigious scholarships, national fellowships, and Peace Corps assignments. The college also has a strong athletic program, with students competing in 23 varsity sports in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.
The beginnings of the University of Puget Sound were marked by moral conviction. Students were warned against intoxicating liquors, visits to saloons, gambling, tobacco use, and obscene drawings or writings on the college grounds. The institution also faced financial challenges in its early years, struggling to pay professors and moving locations three times in 13 years. Despite these early challenges, the University of Puget Sound has grown and flourished, becoming one of the top-ranked liberal arts colleges in the nation.
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The campus is 97 acres and has a Tudor-Gothic architectural style
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in Tacoma, Washington, United States. The campus spans 97 acres and primarily features brick buildings constructed in the Tudor-Gothic architectural style. The buildings are mostly arranged into three main quads: the North Quad, the South Quad, and the Karlen Quad. The North and South Quads contain residence halls, while the Karlen Quad houses notable buildings such as Jones Hall, Collins Memorial Library, and the Music Building.
The University of Puget Sound was founded in 1888 and has a rich history. The campus has undergone several relocations and name changes throughout its existence. Initially established as Puget Sound University, it later became known as the College of Puget Sound before regaining its current name. The early years of the university were marked by financial challenges and a strong moral conviction, with strict rules prohibiting intoxicating liquors, gambling, and tobacco use.
The Tudor-Gothic style prevalent throughout the campus is characterised by vertical proportions, buttressing, and asymmetry. This architectural style sets the tone for the institution, blending traditional and modern elements. The Wilson Welcome Centre and Admissions Building, for example, incorporates familiar campus materials like brick masonry and slate tile while introducing warm Douglas Fir and cedar finishes, along with steel and concrete accents.
The campus is not just aesthetically pleasing but also designed with students' needs in mind. From residence halls to state-of-the-art athletics facilities and the Wheelock Student Centre, the campus aims to provide a comforting and inviting environment for students to live and learn. The intimate scale and sense of community further enhance the undergraduate experience at the University of Puget Sound.
The University of Puget Sound is the only independent national undergraduate liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest with a School of Music and a School of Business and Leadership. It offers a wide range of academic opportunities, including innovative interdisciplinary programs, study abroad options, and close-knit classroom experiences with a student-faculty ratio of 11:1.
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It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and has a student-faculty ratio of 10:1
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1888 and has since expanded to a 97-acre campus, featuring buildings in the Tudor-Gothic architectural style. The University of Puget Sound offers a variety of undergraduate degrees, as well as graduate programs in counselling, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and public health.
The student-faculty ratio at the University of Puget Sound is an impressive 10:1, ensuring small class sizes and close, personal attention from faculty members. The college offers a wide range of courses, with over 1,200 classes available each year in more than 50 traditional and interdisciplinary areas of study. All classes and labs are taught by professors who hold doctorate or equivalent degrees, rather than graduate students or teaching assistants.
The University of Puget Sound's School of Music is particularly notable, offering degrees in music performance, education, and songwriting. The School of Business and Leadership is also unique, as it is the only independent national undergraduate liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest with this combination. The college community is intellectually lively and academically motivated, with a focus on providing a well-rounded education that transcends boundaries and adapts to changing circumstances.
The University of Puget Sound provides numerous opportunities for experiential learning, including study abroad programs, independent research, internships, and community-based projects. Students can also participate in varsity sports, with teams competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III Northwest Conference. Additionally, the college has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, with STARS certification and LEED-certified campus buildings.
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The university is ranked #95 in National Liberal Arts Colleges and #81 in Best Value Schools
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1888 and is well-known for its academic rigor. The University of Puget Sound has been recognised for its strong undergraduate business program and exceptional career development program. It is also the only independent national undergraduate liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest with a School of Music and School of Business and Leadership.
The University of Puget Sound has been recognised for its academic excellence, securing a spot in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges by US News & World Report. The university is ranked #95 in National Liberal Arts Colleges and #81 in Best Value Schools. The ranking criteria include academic reputation, retention, graduation rate, faculty resources, student selectivity, and financial resources.
The University of Puget Sound has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,632 (as of fall 2023), a campus size of 97 acres, and a student-faculty ratio of 10:1. The university offers a semester-based academic calendar and accepts the Common Application. It has a test-optional admissions policy and charges tuition and fees of $62,898. Additionally, 54% of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the four-year graduation rate is 60%.
The University of Puget Sound provides a variety of undergraduate degrees and five graduate programs in counselling, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and public health. The institution also offers a strong residential experience, with traditional residence halls, suite-style living, campus houses, and Greek housing options. The campus buildings are primarily in the Tudor-Gothic architectural style, with quads as the main arrangement.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, Washington, United States.
The campus is 97 acres and is made up of mainly brick buildings in the Tudor-Gothic architectural style. The three main quads are the North Quad, South Quad, and Karlen Quad.
The University of Puget Sound was founded in 1888.










































