University of Puget Sound

What University of Puget Sound does

University of Puget Sound is an independent, residential, predominantly undergraduate liberal arts college founded in 1888 in Tacoma, Washington, on a 97-acre campus on the traditional homelands of the Puyallup Tribe. The institution serves approximately 1,582 undergraduate and 237 graduate students across more than 50 undergraduate programs and five graduate programs in counseling, public health, teaching, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Instruction is delivered at a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio with a holistic, testing-optional admission process and an experiential learning core spanning internships, 100+ study abroad programs in 40+ countries, summer research, and community-based learning. Specialized schools include Music, Business & Leadership, Education, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy, several of which carry external professional accreditations (NASM, ACOTE, CAPTE, CACREP, PESB) and a Phi Beta Kappa charter that only five independent colleges in the Northwest hold. The college also operates extension services including a community music program, youth athletic camps, and the FEPPS college-in-prison program — the first of its kind in Washington state.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a private nonprofit liberal arts college: tuition, fees, room, and board form the primary recurring revenue stream; private philanthropy and endowment draw provide a substantial secondary stream (with $31.18 million raised in FY 2023-24); and the institution is exploring/operating additional revenue-protecting instruments such as coalition-level aid bridging in response to state appropriations cuts. Over 90% of students receive financial aid, with full demonstrated need met for eligible students; median graduate salary for those who received federal student aid is $69,590, and 90% of the Class of 2025 is employed or in graduate school within six months. Distribution is delivered primarily through on-campus residential education, supported by field-based admissions counselors and a digital marketing footprint across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.

The institution is led by President Isiaah Crawford (in office since 2016) and supported by a Board of Trustees; Lorna Hernandez Jarvis, Ph.D., serves as the inaugural Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity. Recent strategic positioning emphasizes applied academic differentiation (Pacific Northwest's first AI and Human Values program), access expansion (FEPPS, Tacoma Public Schools Commitment), and coalition-level financial aid defense (a 2026 multi-institution pledge with Pacific Lutheran, Gonzaga, Seattle University, and Whitman College to bridge Washington College Grant reductions). Technology is utilized for educational delivery and campus operations rather than as a commercial product offering.

Name

University of Puget Sound

Legal name

University of Puget Sound

Website

https://pugetsound.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

University of Puget Sound is an independent residential liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, serving approximately 1,800 undergraduate and graduate students across 50+ undergraduate and 5 graduate programs on a 97-acre campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Selective/Highly Selective Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAJ), Music Conservatories & Music Colleges (EDAHAJAC)

Keywords

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate professional studies
• Private college tuition
• Experiential learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition, fees, and room/board charges for undergraduate and graduate programs. The institution is independent (not state-supported), relying heavily on tuition as a primary revenue stream.
2. Private Philanthropy: Substantial revenue from charitable donations, endowed funds, and annual giving campaigns. Recent year saw $31.18 million raised in gifts and pledges. Includes donor-funded scholarships and the Puget Sound Fund.
3. State Financial Aid Bridging: In response to Washington state budget cuts reducing Washington College Grant awards for private colleges, the university pledged institutional aid from endowments to cover the gap for currently enrolled students, demonstrating financial commitment model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

University of Puget Sound delivers residential undergraduate liberal arts education and selected graduate professional degree programs on a 97-acre Tacoma, Washington campus. The institution offers 50+ undergraduate programs and five graduate programs in counseling, public health, teaching, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, supplemented by 100+ study abroad programs, internships, and experiential learning. Instruction is delivered primarily in person by faculty across specialized schools of Music, Business & Leadership, Education, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy.

Product overview

University of Puget Sound is an independent, predominantly residential undergraduate liberal arts college with selected graduate programs. The institution offers a unified educational platform built on a liberal arts foundation with experiential learning at its core. The portfolio includes over 50 undergraduate programs across traditional and interdisciplinary areas, five graduate programs (Counseling, Public Health, Teaching, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy), and specialized schools in Music, Business & Leadership, Education, and Health Sciences. Experiential learning opportunities including study abroad, internships, and summer research connect classroom education to real-world application. Extension services include community music programs, youth athletic camps, and the innovative FEPPS prison education program. The institution serves approximately 1,600 undergraduates and 250 graduate students on its 97-acre Tacoma campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Academic Programs Over 50 traditional and interdisciplinary undergraduate programs with a liberal arts foundation, featuring small class sizes and a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio for traditional and first-generation college students.
• Graduate Programs Five graduate programs including Master of Education in Counseling, Master of Public Health, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Occupational Therapy, and Doctor of Physical Therapy for working professionals and recent undergraduates.
• School of Music Accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music offering professional degrees in performance, music education, music with elective studies in business, and a Bachelor of Arts in music.
• School of Business & Leadership Business education program recognized as a Business College of Distinction that provides real-life career preparation through senior research seminars for prospective business students.
• School of Education Teacher and school counselor preparation programs meeting Washington State PESB standards, with the Master of Education in Counseling accredited by CACREP.
• School of Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy program accredited by ACOTE of AOTA, preparing graduates for the NBCOT national certification examination and state licensure.
• School of Physical Therapy Physical therapy program accredited by CAPTE, qualifying graduates to take the licensing examination in all 50 U.S. states.
• Community Music Program Music lessons and ensemble opportunities available to community members alongside enrolled students through the School of Music.
• Youth Athletic Camps Summer sports camps including volleyball skills training (ages 11-14) and youth soccer camp (ages 6-13) coached by Logger women's soccer student-athletes.
• Freedom Education Program Puget Sound (FEPPS) College-in-prison program enabling incarcerated individuals in Washington state to earn bachelor's degrees, the first program of its kind in Washington state.
• Always a Logger Podcast Alumni podcast featuring career journeys and stories from Logger graduates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of Class of 2025 employed or continuing education
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Washington State Private Colleges (Coalition)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026University of Puget Sound joined Pacific Lutheran University, Gonzaga University, Seattle University, and Whitman College in pledging millions in institutional aid from endowments and donor funds to cover state aid cuts for currently enrolled students. This coalition collectively responded to Washington state budget reductions cutting Washington College Grant awards from $9,000+ to $6,000+ for private nonprofit colleges.
• Phi Beta KappacoreOthersThe university holds a charter from Phi Beta Kappa (Delta of Washington Chapter), the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. One of only five independent colleges in the Northwest with this distinction.
• National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)coreOthersThe School of Music holds institutional membership in NASM, the accrediting agency designated by the U.S. Department of Education for music curricula accreditation.
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)coreOthersUniversity is accredited by NWCCU, an independent non-profit membership organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• American Chemical SocietycoreOthersThe Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry is approved by ACS, indicating the curriculum meets standards for professional chemistry education.
• Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)coreOthersSchool of Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by ACOTE of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)coreOthersSchool of Physical Therapy is accredited by CAPTE, qualifying graduates to take licensing examinations in all 50 states.
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)coreOthersMaster of Education in Counseling program is accredited by CACREP.
• Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB)coreOthersSchool of Education meets Washington state standards for professional certification of teachers and school counselors.
• Common AppcoreTechnology or IntegrationUniversity accepts applications through Common Application, enabling broader student access to application process.
• Freedom Education Program Puget Sound (FEPPS)coreOthersPartnership to deliver college-in-prison education - the first program of its kind in Washington state, serving women in Washington state prisons. Ten women earned bachelor's degrees while incarcerated through this program.
• Puyallup TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe university acknowledges operating on the traditional homelands of the Puyallup Tribe, with ongoing commitment to allyship and uplifting Indigenous voices, experiences, and histories.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Lutheran University: Independent liberal arts university in Tacoma, WA, offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a similar residential, values-driven mission. Directly comparable in geography, scale, and student profile, and a co-pledger of state aid backfill alongside Puget Sound.
• Whitman College: Highly selective independent liberal arts college in Walla Walla, WA. Closely comparable residential liberal arts model with Phi Beta Kappa chapter and similar application/financial-aid dynamics; co-pledger with Puget Sound in the state aid coalition.
• Gonzaga University: Private, faith-affiliated university in Spokane, WA, with residential undergraduate programs and select graduate/professional offerings. Comparable independent-private peer within Washington facing the same state aid pressure and demographic dynamics.
• Seattle University: Independent, Jesuit-affiliated university in Seattle with residential undergraduate liberal arts programs and graduate/professional schools. Comparable scale, urban Pacific Northwest setting, and co-pledger in the state aid coalition.
• Reed College: Highly selective, independent liberal arts college in Portland, OR, with a similar residential model and small undergraduate population. Direct peer on academic intensity, selectivity, and tuition-dependent economics.
• Lewis & Clark College: Independent liberal arts college in Portland, OR, with residential undergraduate programs and selected graduate offerings (including counseling and education). Comparable scale, mission, and Pacific Northwest independent positioning.
• Willamette University: Independent liberal arts university in Salem, OR, with residential undergraduate programs and professional graduate schools (law, management, education). Comparable private, tuition-dependent, Pacific Northwest institution with similar outcomes-oriented positioning.
• Occidental College: Independent residential liberal arts college in Los Angeles with similar size, selectivity, and tuition-dependent economics. Strong comparator for outcomes-based liberal arts positioning and Phi Beta Kappa-tier academic reputation.
• Macalester College: Highly selective independent liberal arts college in St. Paul, MN, comparable in scale, residential model, internationalism (study abroad, Peace Corps/Fulbright reputation), and outcomes orientation. Useful benchmark for selective private liberal arts economics.
• Carleton College: Highly selective, residential independent liberal arts college in Northfield, MN, with comparable scale and reputation for graduate school placement. Useful peer for benchmarking outcomes-driven liberal arts positioning and endowment-supported aid strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/univpugetsound
• Facebookfacebook.com/73244767529
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-puget-sound
• Instagraminstagram.com/univpugetsound
• TikToktiktok.com/@univpugetsound
• Xx.com/univpugetsound

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Puget Sound