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University of Puget Sound — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Tacoma, WA · 1,594 students

The verdict

University of Puget Sound charges a net price of $38,394/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $153,576. Graduates earn a median $69,594 ten years after entry, $21,234/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.2 years — a 20-year net return of $271,104, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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University of Puget Sound's 7.2-year payback ranks #637 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 50% of them, and #18 of 64 in Washington.

Better ROI than 50% of US colleges#637 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$38,394
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$69,594
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
7.2 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
72%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of Puget Sound: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$38,394/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$153,576our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$69,594Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$21,234/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback7.2 yrsour math
20-year net return$271,104our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on University of Puget Sound's own numbers. Net price $38,394 × 4 years = $153,576 total. Median earnings $69,594 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $21,234 a year of premium. $153,576 ÷ $21,234 = 7.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $271,104. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do University of Puget Sound students graduate with?

A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $69,594 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of University of Puget Sound students graduate?

68% finish their degree — 32% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $153,576 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $225,847 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of Puget Sound expensive compared with other Washington colleges?

Its $38,394 net price runs $26,368 above the $12,027 median across the 64 Washington colleges we profile, or $105,470 more across the full degree.

University of Puget Sound: frequently asked questions

Is University of Puget Sound worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. University of Puget Sound charges $38,394/yr after aid ($153,576 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $69,594 ten years out — $21,234/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 7.2 years and returns $271,104 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a University of Puget Sound degree take to pay off?
About 7.2 years. We divide the $153,576 four-year net cost by the $21,234/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does University of Puget Sound cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $38,394/yr — about $153,576 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of Puget Sound compare to other Washington colleges?
It ranks #18 of 64 Washington colleges we track by payback. Its $69,594 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $38,394 net price is above the national median of $16,902.