University of Puget Sound vs Whitman College: which has better ROI?
Whitman College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $133,252 in 6.9 years versus 7.2 years at University of Puget Sound, on median earnings of $67,589 vs $69,594 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Puget Sound | Whitman College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,394 | $33,313 |
| Total net cost | $153,576 | $133,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,594 | $67,589 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $18,437 |
| Payback | 7.2 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $271,104 | $251,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Puget Sound or Whitman College?
Whitman College, at $33,313 a year after aid versus $38,394 — a gap of $5,081 a year, or $20,324 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Puget Sound or Whitman College graduates earn more?
University of Puget Sound graduates report a median $69,594 ten years after entry, $2,005 more than the $67,589 at Whitman College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Puget Sound or Whitman College?
Whitman College: its completers carry a median $18,437 in federal loans versus $25,000 at University of Puget Sound, a difference of $6,563. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Whitman College, against 68% at University of Puget Sound. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.