University of Puget Sound: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The University of Puget Sound is a private university with an acceptance rate of 84%. Located in Tacoma, Washington and affiliated with the Methodist Church, the University of Puget Sound is grounded in a strong liberal arts curriculum that earned the college a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. The University of Puget Sound boasts of an 11-to-1 student / faculty ratio. In athletics, the Puget Sound Loggers compete in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.

Considering applying to the University of Puget Sound? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, the University of Puget Sound had an acceptance rate of 84%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 84 students were admitted, making the University of Puget Sound's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

University of Puget Sound has a test-optional standardized testing policy for most applicants. Students applying to Puget Sound may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 59% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Puget Sound's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to the University of Puget Sound scored between 590 and 690, while 25% scored below 590 and 25% scored above 690. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 560 and 680, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 680. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1370 or higher is competitive for Puget Sound.

Requirements

Note that the University of Puget Sound does not require SAT scores for admission for most applicants. Students who opt not to submit test scores are required to submit two short essays to Puget Sound. For students who choose to submit scores, the University of Puget Sound participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Puget Sound does not require the SAT essay section.

Home-schooled students and students who attend high schools that do not assign grades or do not instruct primarily in English are required to submit standardized test scores.

ACT Scores and Requirements

University of Puget Sound has a test-optional standardized testing policy for most applicants. Students applying to Puget Sound may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 37% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Puget Sound's admitted students fall within the top 26% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to the University of Puget Sound received a composite ACT score between 25 and 30, while 25% scored above 30 and 25% scored below 25.

Requirements

Note that the University of Puget Sound does not require ACT scores for admission for most applicants. Students who opt not to submit test scores are required to submit two short essays to Puget Sound. For students who choose to submit scores, the University of Puget Sound participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Puget Sound does not require the ACT writing section.

Note that home-schooled students and students who attend high schools that do not assign grades or do not instruct primarily in English are required to submit standardized test scores.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of the University of Puget Sound's incoming freshmen class was 3.57, and over 64% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.5 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to the University of Puget Sound have primarily high B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Puget Sound. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to admitted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Puget Sound, which accepts more than three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat competitive admissions process. However, the University of Puget Sound also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, the University of Puget Sound strongly recommends interviews for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Puget Sound's average range.

In the graph above, the green and blue dots represent admitted students. You can see that the majority of students accepted to the University of Puget Sound had GPAs above a 3.0, SAT scores (ERW+M) above 1100, and ACT composite scores of 22 or higher. A large number of successful applicants had solid "A" averages. Grades and other elements of the application are more important than standardized test scores due to the school's test optional admissions process.

If You Like University of Puget Sound, You May Also Like These Schools

• Reed College
• Whitman College
• University of Washington
• Gonzaga University
• Santa Clara University
• Stanford University
• Lewis & Clark College
• Seattle University
• University of Portland
• Washington State University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Puget Sound Undergraduate Admissions Office.