Seattle University
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Why Seattle University Matters
Seattle 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 5% 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
- 4,062
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Seattle 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
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1200–1430. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $34,662 a year after grants and scholarships — 102% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $75,272 ten years after enrolling — 85% above the typical college, against $19,883 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 32% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Seattle University is a solid choice for students looking to dive into fields like Health Professions, Business, Computer Science, and Psychology. With an acceptance rate of 77%, it welcomes a diverse group of learners, making it a good fit for those who seek a supportive environment while pursuing their academic interests. The graduation rate stands at 74%, indicating that a significant number of students complete their degrees and are well-prepared for the workforce.
Looking at the outcomes, graduates earn an average of $75,272 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure suggests that many students find rewarding careers that allow for upward mobility. The affordability factor is also worth noting, with 24% of students receiving Pell Grants, which helps lower the financial barrier for those who qualify.
When it comes to the practicalities of financing your education, the net price after aid is about $34,662, and the median debt at graduation is $19,883. This debt load is relatively manageable compared to potential earnings, making it easier for graduates to thrive post-college. Students who tend to do well here are often those who are motivated and engaged, ready to take advantage of the rich resources and community support Seattle University has to offer.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Seattle 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 University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Seattle University, located in Seattle, Washington, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,307. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 74%.
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 University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Seattle University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $56,721 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $34,662 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,896 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,883.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Seattle University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Seattle University earn a median of $75,272 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
Where Grads Go
Top employers of Seattle University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
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%?
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 University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Seattle 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 1.90%, well above the typical college. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Seattle University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 47 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Seattle University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Seattle University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Seattle University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Seattle University, located in Seattle, Washington, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,307. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Seattle University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Seattle University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $56,721 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $34,662 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,896 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,883.
Is Seattle University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Seattle University earn a median of $75,272 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Does Seattle University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Seattle 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 1.90%, well above the typical college. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Seattle 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 University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.85 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Seattle University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Seattle 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 University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.85 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.