Tour Tuesday: University of Puget Sound
I try to visit 30–50 college campuses each year, and starting now, I’m going to share more of those experiences here on the blog. These posts will include my personal notes, impressions, and images from each stop - some practical, some purely observational. Whether you’re a prospective student, a parent, or just someone who enjoys exploring different college environments, I hope this series gives you a better sense of what these places are really like on the ground!
Puget Sound: Experiential Learning, Mountain Views, and Music in the Air
Quick Look
Experiential learning is required, with university funding available for unpaid internships (housing included).
Brand-new majors/minors: Neuroscience major and Data Analytics minor.
Around 1,800 undergraduates - acceptance rate ~70%.
Free, unlimited therapy and strong wellness supports.
First two years on campus required, with flexible dining dollars usable across coffee shops and even the on-campus grocery.
Signature traditions: KUPS Fest (a student-run campus concert at the end of the year), strong women’s basketball and soccer programs
Honors minor program available
Overview
The University of Puget Sound (UPS) feels like a liberal arts college that refuses to let learning stay in the classroom. Here, every student has to get their hands dirty - whether that means interning, researching, studying abroad, or engaging with the community. The idea is simple, but powerful: don’t just think about your future, test-drive it before graduation.
The culture has a distinctly Northwest flavor: collaborative, friendly, and balanced by a love of the outdoors. You’re just as likely to find students in a seminar debate about ethics in data as you are to see them grabbing gear from the outdoor center to head up to Mt. Rainier for the weekend.
This is a campus where professors know your name, wellness is taken seriously (free unlimited therapy is rare for a college of this size), and creativity thrives whether in the classroom or at KUPS Fest, the student-run concert that caps off the school year.
Academics & Majors
Experiential Learning: At Puget Sound, experiential learning is a graduation requirement. Students choose between internships, summer research, study abroad, or community projects - and the school steps in to make it possible. If you land an unpaid internship, Puget Sound has funding to help cover housing and other costs. That’s the kind of safety net that says, “Go for it, we’ve got you.”
New Programs: The brand-new Neuroscience major reflects how the school keeps growing into interdisciplinary fields. Paired with the Data Analytics minor, Puget Sound is setting students up with tools that are not only relevant but in demand.
Seminars & Honors: Every first-year student takes two seminar courses, with topics chosen by professors, so your first classes might dive into anything from literature to climate policy to music. For high achievers, the Honors Program functions almost like an honors minor, adding depth and distinction.
With a student-faculty ratio of about 10:1, the academic environment is intimate, interactive, and personal. You’re not lost in the back of a lecture hall here.
Admissions & Financial Aid
Admissions at Puget Sound are straightforward and student-centered:
Acceptance rate sits around 70%, with an average GPA of 3.63.
Test scores are optional, and not central to admissions decisions.
Puget Sound is need-aware, but for Early Decision admits, the school commits to meeting full demonstrated need.
Every student gets something in the form of financial aid or scholarships - including the quirky but meaningful $1,000 renewable “visit scholarship” just for coming to see campus.
Diversity is a growing focus: ~34% of students are from diverse backgrounds, with resources in place to make sure support matches commitment.
Puget Sound doesn’t use AI in admissions decisions - a reminder that this process is still human, thoughtful, and individualized.
Student Life & Community
Life here is designed to be immersive:
Students live on campus for their first two years, which makes it easy to meet people and get involved.
The dining dollar system works across campus coffee shops and even the small grocery store, so your meal plan feels more like a debit card than a cafeteria punch.
Wellness is a big deal. Free therapy with no session limits is not something most colleges can say.
Music and arts thrive here; the dance program (RDG) and campus radio station feed into the vibrant creative scene.
And then there’s KUPS Fest: the high-energy concert that takes over campus at the end of the year - an exclamation point on the student experience.
Athletics & Outdoors
Puget Sound competes in NCAA Division III, with around 30–35% of the student body playing varsity sports. Women’s basketball is a standout, and both soccer and track/cross-country teams have strong showings.
But athletics at Puget Sound extend beyond varsity: outdoor programs are a defining part of student life. The school leans into its Pacific Northwest setting, helping students climb, hike, ski, and paddle their way through college. Whether you’re on a competitive team or on a weekend adventure, being active is simply part of the culture here.
Final Thoughts: Who Would Thrive at Puget Sound
Puget Sound is for students who want a hands-on liberal arts education in a close-knit, outdoorsy, and supportive environment.
If you’re curious but not fully sure where you’re headed, the required experiential learning will give you real-world clarity.
If you’re looking for a community that balances rigor with wellness, this is a place that invests in both.
If you love the outdoors, thrive in small classes, and want to feel like your professors and advisors actually know you, Puget Sound delivers.
And if you’re drawn to a culture where arts, athletics, and academics live side by side - not competing but complementing - you’ll find your people here.
This is the kind of school where students leave not just with a diploma, but with stories of internships, field work, performances, and outdoor adventures that shaped who they are.
