Seattle Pacific University
#3 Best Online Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $64,506 A-
- Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $24,488 D
- 43% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 83% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Online Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,624,490.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduates earn 58% more than the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $17.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 51%
- Patents
- 40
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 75
- Downstream influence
Why Seattle Pacific University Matters
Seattle Pacific University is a private doctoral / professional university in Seattle, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 1,762
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 64
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose Seattle Pacific University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 83% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,488 a year after grants and scholarships — 43% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $64,506 ten years after enrolling — 58% above the typical college, against $24,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 57% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,762 students and an acceptance rate of 83%, Seattle Pacific University is a welcoming environment for those looking to pursue degrees in areas like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education, and Biology & Biomedical. The university's focus on these fields suggests a strong commitment to career readiness. This is ideal for students who want a supportive community while diving into practical, career-oriented studies.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $64,506 within ten years, which is a solid figure that reflects the value of the education received here. While the graduation rate is 62%, indicating that not everyone completes their degree, many students who do graduate find stable career paths. Affordability is also a consideration, as the net price sits at $24,488, making it accessible for many families.
When it comes to the practical aspects of attending Seattle Pacific University, the median debt load stands at $24,000, which is manageable for graduates entering the workforce with decent earning potential. Those who thrive here tend to be individuals looking for a nurturing academic environment that balances rigorous academics with a strong sense of community. This setting can be particularly beneficial for students who value personal connection and support in their educational journey.
Rankings
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #3 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #7 Best Colleges in Washington
- #7 Best Biology Colleges in Washington
- #8 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #9 Best MBA Programs in Washington
- #10 Best Bachelor's Programs in Washington
- #10 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Seattle Pacific University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Seattle Pacific University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Seattle, Washington, Seattle Pacific University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 24. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 56%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,581
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.83
- First-Gen Students
- 23%
- Applicants
- 3,895
- Admitted
- 3,533
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Seattle Pacific University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Seattle Pacific University is $40,407, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,488. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,735 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $40,407
- Out-of-State
- $40,407
- Avg Net Price
- $24,488
- Median Debt
- $24,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 49%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,735
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,559
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,332
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,819
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Seattle Pacific University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Seattle Pacific University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Seattle Pacific University earn a median of $64,506, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,496
- 8 Years
- $59,612
- 10 Years
- $64,506
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (344)
- 51%
- 100% (344)
- 51%
- 100% (344)
- 51%
- 100% (344)
- 51%
How Seattle Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Seattle Pacific University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Seattle Pacific University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,488/year ($97,952 total). Graduates earn $64,506 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,722,442 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,624,490 (17.6× your investment). The median debt is $24,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $97,952
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,722,442
- Net Return
- $1,624,490
- ROI Multiple
- 17.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,488
- Median Debt
- $24,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Seattle Pacific University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Seattle Pacific University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.35%, well above the typical college. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $104,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.35%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 30.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $141,571
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Seattle Pacific University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 40 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.44%
- Top 51% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 40
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 75
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.70%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $9,594,000
- Investment Income
- $-6,093,000
Top Programs
The fields Seattle Pacific University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 20% $84,912 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $66,496 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $25,230 early-career
- Psychology 9% $34,625 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $45,495 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $52,040 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $100,299 early-career
- Humanities 5% $33,980 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Seattle Pacific University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Seattle Pacific University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Seattle, Washington, Seattle Pacific University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 24. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Seattle Pacific University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Seattle Pacific University is $40,407, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,488. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,735 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,000 in federal student loans.
Is Seattle Pacific University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Seattle Pacific University earn a median of $64,506, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Seattle Pacific University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Seattle Pacific University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.35%, well above the typical college. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $104,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Seattle Pacific University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Seattle Pacific University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Seattle Pacific University.
- Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA · Close peer69% grad $62,621 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Emmanuel CollegeBoston, MA · Close peer67% grad $68,245 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Close peer73% grad $63,764 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Close peer59% grad $61,106 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Roanoke CollegeSalem, VA · Close peer67% grad $58,047 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, IN · Close peer67% grad $59,986 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Seattle Pacific University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Seattle Pacific University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note