City University of Seattle
Seattle, WA 98121
About City University of Seattle
City University of Seattle is a private research university in Seattle, Washington, enrolling about 1,137 students. City University of Seattle awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $14,589 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $69,460 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- City University of Seattle charges about 0.5× the national private non-profit median tuition ($14,589).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 16.67%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $69,460.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at City University of Seattle is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 395% 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.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| City University of Seattle | $14,589 | $35,049 | 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.
How expensive is City University of Seattle really?
Key findings
- City University of Seattle charges about 0.5× the national private non-profit median tuition ($14,589).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
City University of Seattle tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $14,589
Finding City University of Seattle charges about 0.5× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $14,589. That is about 0.5× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Washington median ($8,256), sticker tuition is about 1.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 23% above.
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 City University of Seattle versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at City University of Seattle versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at City University of Seattle is $35,049.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $35,049 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $25,186 above the Washington median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $14,996 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 At City University of Seattle, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
City University of Seattle: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for City University of Seattle—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
$14,589
Avg. net price
$35,049
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $58,356. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What City University of Seattle is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General133
- Curriculum and Instruction79
- Education, General53
- Computer Science40
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General39
See earnings & programs for more.
Is City University of Seattle a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
City University of Seattle 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 City University of Seattle.
Campus
Location
Seattle, WA
City / state
- ZIP
- 98121
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 75% 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
1,137
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,177
- Graduate
- 820
- Full-time share
- 11%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 10.70%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for City University of Seattle.
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 City University of Seattle 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 City University of Seattle 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 | $14,880 | $14,880 | $32,119 |
| 2016 | $16,748 | $16,748 | — |
| 2017 | $16,920 | $16,920 | — |
| 2018 | $16,973 | $16,973 | $23,557 |
| 2023 | $14,589 | $14,589 | $35,049 |
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
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
City University of Seattle reported total enrollment of about 1,137 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (60.6%), White (16.2%), and Black or African American (8.1%). About 10.70% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
10.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at City University of Seattle in 2024 is 1,137 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,177 students. Graduate enrollment is about 820 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
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
0.00% 100% Completion Time
16.67% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from City University of Seattle completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 56% male / 44% female
- Curriculum and Instruction: 15% male / 85% female
- Education, General: 21% male / 79% 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.
City University of Seattle graduates earn a median of $69,460 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of City University of Seattle.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $69,460. Median federal loan debt: $25,000. Average net price used in cost models: $35,049.
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 City University of Seattle graduates report median earnings of $69,460 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 City University of Seattle.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (34 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at City University of Seattle.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for City University of Seattle graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for City University of Seattle—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$3.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Washington median 0.32× the median ($11.9M)
- Far West median 0.23× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 0.15× the median ($26.4M)
- Washington median 0.69× the median ($4,513)
- Far West median 0.43× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 0.26× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 6.2%
- Washington median 88.6 pp below median (94.9%)
- Far West median 39.4 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 51.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,147
- Washington median 0.75× the median ($9,588)
- Far West median 0.74× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 0.94× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,232
- Washington median 0.73× the median ($8,580)
- Far West median 0.89× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.86× 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.
City University of Seattle at a glance
City University of Seattle
City University of Seattle is a private non-profit institution in Seattle, WA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralCurriculum and InstructionEducation, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino60.6%White or Caucasian16.2%Black or African American8.1%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near City University of Seattle
Other campuses in Seattle, WA when available, plus nearby institutions in Washington.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Washington, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is City University of Seattle located?
City University of Seattle is located in Seattle, WA.
What is City University of Seattle's tuition?
City University of Seattle tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $14,589 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $35,049 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does City University of Seattle cost?
Reported tuition is $14,589 and average net price is $35,049 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What explains City University of Seattle's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($35,049), completion (16.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($69,460). 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 City University of Seattle?
City University of Seattle reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,177 students, Hispanic or Latino (60.6%), White (16.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend City University of Seattle?
About 40.9% of students at City University of Seattle are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of City University of Seattle earn?
Median earnings are $56,195 six years after entry and $69,460 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at City University of Seattle?
The 150%-time completion rate is 16.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do City University of Seattle students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is City University of Seattle public or private?
City University of Seattle is a private nonprofit institution located in Seattle, WA.
Is City University of Seattle an HBCU?
No. City University of Seattle is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is City University of Seattle a tribal college?
No. City University of Seattle is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
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.