Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Puget Sound

A liberal arts degree from University of Puget Sound carries an estimated debt load of $33,410—substantially higher than the state median of $22,881 for similar programs and above the national median of $27,000. When matched against estimated first-year earnings of $35,398 (derived from Washington state data for comparable programs), you're looking at nearly a dollar of debt for every dollar earned in year one. For a school with a 76% admission rate and strong SAT scores, this debt burden feels steep, especially when other Washington institutions like Whitworth University and Seattle University show their liberal arts graduates earning in the low-to-mid $40s.

The uncertainty here matters. Without actual outcomes data from Puget Sound, you're relying on state averages that may not reflect this specific school's network, location advantages in Tacoma, or alumni career paths. The estimate places earnings right at Washington's median for liberal arts programs, but that figure spans institutions from community colleges to research universities. Puget Sound's smaller size and regional reputation could push outcomes either direction.

If you're considering this program, the key question is whether the debt load is manageable given your family's financial situation and your child's career direction. At $33,000 in loans, monthly payments will run around $370 for ten years—tight on a $35,000 salary. Get specific answers from the school about employment outcomes, graduate school placement, and typical career trajectories before committing to debt that exceeds what most liberal arts programs in Washington require.