About Puget Sound

Puget Sound is a highly selective liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest. It's a place where people come together to learn, to make lasting connections, to plunge into a sea of ideas, and to begin to scale the challenges of the world ahead. An intellectual atmosphere, an energized academic community, a beautiful campus in a vibrant city, and a depth of opportunities to reach out, connect, and explore, Puget Sound is the result of a unique confluence of the elements.

The Academic Program

Curriculum

• Four-year core curriculum in the liberal arts tradition
• More than 50 traditional and interdisciplinary programs
• 1,200 courses offered annually

The People

Students

• 2,600 students, 43% men and 57% women from 44 states, 16 countries; 76% from outside Washington state
• Ethnic/national distribution:
  • African American 3%
  • Asian/Pacific Islander 12%
  • Caucasian 74%
  • Hispanic/Latino 6%
  • Native American 2%
  • Other 3%
  • International approximately 1%

Selected student honors earned

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals
Critical Language Scholarship
French Government Teaching Assistantship
Fulbright Scholarship
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
National Science Foundation Fellowship
Princeton-in-Asia Fellowship
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
Undergraduate Summer Research Grant

Select academic honor societies

Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Kappa Phi

Faculty

• Hold doctorate or equivalent: 99% of tenure-line faculty
• Full-time: 93%
• Student-faculty ratio: 12 to 1

The Place

Location

• Tacoma, Washington, population approximately 200,000; 35 miles south of Seattle
• Campus located in the residential North End neighborhood, near shopping, downtown, and waterfront
• 97-acre landscaped campus with extensive facilities and varied residential options

The Possibilities

Student Life

• More than 70 wide-ranging organizations and clubs
• Active student government
• Greek-letter organizations

Athletics and Recreation

• NCAA Division III Northwest Conference
• 23 varsity sports
• Varied intramural and club sports

Details

Freshman Admission Profile

• Total entering freshmen: 636
• Middle 50% SAT I: 1740–1990

Cost of Attendance (2012–13)

• Tuition: $40,060
• Room and Board: $10,390
• Fees: $375
• Total: $50,640

Financial Aid

• Approximately 65% of students receive need-based assistance.
• Puget Sound offers merit scholarships that range from $15,000 up to the full cost of tuition, room, and board.

Construction

Construction and major renovations performed within the last decade: (dollars in millions)

• The William T. and Gail Weyerhaeuser Center for Health Sciences, home to occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, exercise science, and neuroscience (2011) $21
• Commencement Walk (2011)
• Wheelock Student Center improvements (2011)
• Collins Memorial Library entry and elevator (2011)
• Seward Hall fire sprinkler and upgrades (2009) $0.8
• Fieldhouse improvements (2008-09) $4.3
• Facilities Services Complex (2008-09) $5.9
• Campus entrance at 15th and Alder (2008) $1.2
• Harrington/Schiff fire sprinkler and upgrades (2008) $0.7
• Jones/Howarth renovations (2008) $1.2
• Thompson Hall renovation (2006-08) $40
• Harned Hall construction (2005-06) $25.4
• Lower Baker Athletic Field upgrades (2007) $1.9
• Regester Hall renovation (2006) $2.2
• Howarth Hall accessibility upgrades (2005) $0.6
• Todd & Phibbs Residence Hall renovations (2004) $2
• Sculpture House construction (2003) $0.5

Collins Memorial Library

• Volumes: more than 580,000
• Unique print serial titles: more than 3,500
• Unique electronic serial titles: more than 32,000
• Electronic nonserial titles: more than 68,000
• Music and video recordings: more than 12,800
• Research consultation with professional librarians
• 24/7 access to ready reference assistance through virtual chat service
• Group and personal study rooms
• Access to collections of the Orbis-Cascade Alliance, a network of more than 35 academic libraries in the Pacific Northwest
• Art and music programs and exhibits

Technology Services

• 350 Mbps high-speed campus connection to the Internet
• Comprehensive wireless connectivity in all campus buildings
• Free HD cable TV in all residence halls, houses, and Greek residences
• Over 300 machines available 24/7 in general access and residential computer labs
• Extensive, multitiered technical support through the Technology Service Desk
• More than 100 electronic teaching spaces
• State-of-the-art digital media lab