Seattle University
Seattle, WA 98122-4340
About Seattle University
Seattle University is a private research university in Seattle, Washington, serving roughly 4,062 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 76.92% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $75,272 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Seattle University charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition ($56,721).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 6.9×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 75.51%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $75,272.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Seattle University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 443% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Seattle University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 85 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle University | $56,721 | $34,662 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Washington (state median) | $8,256 | $9,863 | 70 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 39% below published tuition at Seattle University
Key findings
- Seattle University's average net price ($34,662) is 39% below published tuition ($56,721).
- Seattle University charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition ($56,721).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 6.9×.
Seattle University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $56,721
Finding Seattle University charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $56,721. That is about 1.9× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Washington median ($8,256), sticker tuition is about 6.9×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 4.8×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Seattle University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Seattle University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Seattle University is $34,662.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $34,662 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $24,799 above the Washington median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $14,609 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Seattle University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 39% lower after grants and scholarships.
Seattle University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Seattle University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$56,721
Avg. net price
$34,662
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $22,896 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $24,523 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $26,977 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $36,967 |
| $110,001+ | $42,737 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $226,884. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Seattle University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse253
- Computer Science236
- Business Administration and Management, General232
- Law205
- Management Science106
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 15% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1307
- Midpoint ACT: 28
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Seattle University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Seattle University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Seattle University.
Campus
Location
Seattle, WA
City / state
- ZIP
- 98122-4340
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 73% above the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Doctoral/Professional Universities
Size
Enrollment
4,062
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 4,454
- Graduate
- 3,111
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$19,883
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 23.57%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Seattle University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Seattle University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Seattle University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $36,465 | $36,465 | $33,557 |
| 2014 | $38,205 | $38,205 | $32,996 |
| 2015 | $39,690 | $39,690 | $34,164 |
| 2016 | $41,265 | $41,265 | $33,170 |
| 2017 | $42,885 | $42,885 | $35,006 |
| 2018 | $44,610 | $44,610 | $34,947 |
| 2019 | $46,590 | $46,590 | $34,802 |
| 2020 | $48,390 | $48,390 | $35,109 |
| 2021 | $49,335 | $49,335 | $35,518 |
| 2022 | $51,324 | $51,324 | $33,700 |
| 2023 | $54,285 | $54,285 | $34,802 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1307 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 28 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.60
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Seattle University reported total enrollment of about 4,062 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (28.8%), Asian (28.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (15.8%). About 23.57% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 19.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Seattle University in 2024 is 4,062 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,454 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,111 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
84.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
66.95% 100% Completion Time
75.51% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 66.95% of students graduating from Seattle University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 14% male / 86% female
- Computer Science: 69% male / 31% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 46% male / 54% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Seattle University graduates earn a median of $75,272 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Seattle University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $75,272. Median federal loan debt: $19,883. Average net price used in cost models: $34,662.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Seattle University graduates report median earnings of $75,272 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Seattle University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (85 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Seattle University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Seattle University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Seattle University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$297.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Washington median 25× the median ($11.9M)
- Far West median 18× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 11× the median ($26.4M)
- Washington median 11× the median ($4,513)
- Far West median 6.6× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 4.0× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 67.0%
- Washington median 27.8 pp below median (94.9%)
- Far West median 21.4 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 9.1 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,352
- Washington median 0.87× the median ($9,588)
- Far West median 0.87× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $18,739
- Washington median 2.2× the median ($8,580)
- Far West median 2.7× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 2.6× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Seattle University at a glance
Seattle University
Seattle University is a private non-profit institution in Seattle, WA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseComputer ScienceBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian28.8%Asian28.0%Hispanic or Latino15.8%
Schools near Seattle University
Other campuses in Seattle, WA when available, plus nearby institutions in Washington.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Washington, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Seattle University located?
Seattle University is located in Seattle, WA.
What is Seattle University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Seattle University is 76.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 8,976 applicants and 6,826 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Seattle University's tuition?
Seattle University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $56,721 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $34,662 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Seattle University cost?
Reported tuition is $56,721 and average net price is $34,662 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $15,702 annually.
Why is Seattle University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Seattle University, published tuition is $56,721 while average net price is $34,662—about 39% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Seattle University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($34,662), completion (75.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($75,272). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Seattle University?
Seattle University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,454 students, White (28.8%), Asian (28.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Seattle University?
About 19.4% of students at Seattle University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Seattle University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Seattle University reports midpoint SAT about 1307 and midpoint ACT about 28.
What do graduates of Seattle University earn?
Median earnings are $64,656 six years after entry and $75,272 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Seattle University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 75.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Seattle University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,883.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.