You might be eligible for a FULLY-FUNDED EDUCATION at Puget Sound!
As the oldest college in Tacoma, University of Puget Sound knows firsthand how exceptional our local community is. The Sound Scholars program is our way of supporting Tacoma students as they embark on the next stage of their education. We believe financial limitations shouldn’t keep students from receiving an excellent college experience, so admitted students who are accepted into the Sound Scholars Program will have their full demonstrated financial need met.
To qualify for Sound Scholars, students must:
- Apply to Puget Sound.
- Apply for Sound Scholars.
- Graduate from a Tacoma high school after attending for a minimum of 3 years.
- Be a US Citizen, permanent resident, or qualify under the REAL Hope Act (SB 6523).
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if applying under the REAL Hope Act (SB 6523), the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) in order to demonstrate financial need.
Sound Scholars Admission Requirements
Tacoma Public Schools graduates who apply by the Jan. 15 Regular Decision deadline, meet the criteria below, and are admitted to University of Puget Sound and Sound Scholars will receive a full-need financial aid offer. We seek to enroll up to 20 students in the Sound Scholars Program, with preference given to those who demonstrate a commitment to the Tacoma community through work, service, and/or volunteerism. Those students admitted to Puget Sound who are not accepted to Sound Scholars will be eligible for both need-based and merit-based financial aid in accordance with standard awarding practices.
To qualify, students must:
- Apply to University of Puget Sound and Sound Scholars.
- Complete applications must include: Common Application, a School Report, Teacher Evaluation, Transcripts, and the ACT or SAT if applying with test scores.
- Have been enrolled for three years and graduate from Henry Foss High School; Lincoln High School; Mount Tahoma High School; Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA); Science and Math Institute (SAMI); School of Industrial Design, Engineering, and Art (IDEA); Stadium High School; or Silas High School.
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualify under the REAL Hope Act (SB 6523).
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if applying under the REAL Hope Act (SB 6523), the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) in order to demonstrate financial need.
Home-schooled students are not eligible for Sound Scholars, but are invited to apply to Puget Sound and will be considered for other financial aid awards.
Admitted students who are accepted to Sound Scholars are expected to enroll for the term in which they apply; students who defer enrollment will need to re-apply for the new term.
Determining Financial Need
Financial aid eligibility, or demonstrated financial need, is determined by subtracting Student Aid Index (SAI) from University of Puget Sound’s cost of attendance. The SAI is calculated using the information provided on your FAFSA form. The calculation uses the tax information, as well as the net worth of reported assets. The SAI is used to determine the amount of need-based financial aid for which a student is eligible.
Cost of Attendance is the estimated cost of the direct and indirect expenses expected during an academic year. Indirect costs are expenses incurred that are not billed by Puget Sound and include expenses for books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. Please visit the Tuition and Fees section of our website for up-to-date information on Cost of Attendance and direct and indirect costs.
Cost of Attendance minus Student Aid Index = Financial Need
The amount of financial need is then used to determine eligibility for need-based grants, loans, and work-study.
Meeting Full Demonstrated Financial Need
University of Puget Sound will meet the full demonstrated financial need for eligible students for up to five academic years through a combination of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. Work-study awards up to the full annual award amount ($4,700/2026-27) each year; offered federal loans will not exceed $3,500 per year.
After determining an applicant’s financial need, applicable awards will be applied as follows; Merit Scholarship, Pell Grant, Washington State Aid (Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship), Federal SEOG, Subsidized Federal Loan, Work- Study, and Puget Sound Grant.
Questions?
If you have questions about your eligibility or the application process, please contact our Office of Admission at admission@pugetsound.edu or 253.879.3211.