Head-to-head comparison
Seattle Pacific University vs University of Puget Sound: which has better ROI?
Option A Seattle, WA
Seattle Pacific University
- Net price / year
- $24,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,506
- Payback
- 6.1 yrs
Option B Tacoma, WA
University of Puget Sound
- Net price / year
- $38,394
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,594
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
Seattle Pacific University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,952 in 6.1 years versus 7.2 years at University of Puget Sound, on median earnings of $64,506 vs $69,594 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Seattle Pacific University | University of Puget Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,488 | $38,394 |
| Total net cost | $97,952 | $153,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,506 | $69,594 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 7.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $224,968 | $271,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Seattle Pacific University or University of Puget Sound?
Seattle Pacific University, at $24,488 a year after aid versus $38,394 — a gap of $13,906 a year, or $55,624 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Seattle Pacific University or University of Puget Sound graduates earn more?
University of Puget Sound graduates report a median $69,594 ten years after entry, $5,088 more than the $64,506 at Seattle Pacific University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Seattle Pacific University or University of Puget Sound?
Seattle Pacific University: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at University of Puget Sound, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at University of Puget Sound, against 62% at Seattle Pacific University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.