The University of Puget Sound is pleased to announce it has welcomed its largest incoming class since 2019. This fall, 470 first-time-in-college (FTIC) students arrived at Puget Sound, a 24% increase over last year’s first-year class. The university also recorded its highest fall-to-fall retention rate in a decade, with the Fall 2025 FTIC cohort returning at 89.5%. These two achievements, in concert, bring Puget Sound's total degree-seeking enrollment to 1,995 students. This marks a 5% increase in enrollment in one year, and is the strongest enrollment has been since 2022. In addition to the growth in FTIC students, Puget Sound welcomed 48 new undergraduate transfer students and 121 new graduate degree candidates, bringing total graduate enrollment to 291 students.
“The enrollment gains we have achieved this fall represent an important milestone for the University of Puget Sound and a source of tremendous pride for our campus community,” said President Isiaah Crawford. “Beyond the numbers, this progress reflects the strength and vitality of our university, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the enduring value of a Puget Sound education. At a time when students and families are navigating an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world, we are encouraged by their confidence in the transformative power of a liberal arts education — one that fosters critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, adaptability, and a strong sense of community while preparing graduates to lead lives of purpose and consequence.”
The incoming first-year class hails from 35 states and seven countries, making it the most geographically diverse new student class in several years.
“Our growth this year is the result of a deliberate, student-first approach,” said Tim Whittum, vice president for enrollment. “We have reimagined how we connect with prospective students through a strategic enrollment plan that responds to shifting priorities in higher education while staying true to our residential liberal arts mission. Every effort has been rooted in making a world-class liberal arts education more accessible to outstanding students.”
Puget Sound welcomes these talented scholars as they begin their academic journeys. For admission information or to schedule a visit, please explore pugetsound.edu/admission.
