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Seattle University
Seattle University says yes to 76.9% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $75,272 median earnings.
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Seattle University sits in Seattle proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $128,314 four years out. 23.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 4,062 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 84.2% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1130 and 1350 — near the WA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Seattle University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Seattle University received 8,976 applications and admitted 6,826 (76%), with 1,049 enrolling.
Seattle University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1130–1350 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Seattle University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 570 | 630 | 670 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 630 | 680 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 27 | 30 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Seattle University compares
| Seattle University | Washington median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 76.9% | 83.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $56,721 | $19,614 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $75,272 | $62,092 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Seattle University: $75,272 median at year ten, versus $62,092 across Washington institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $56,721 regardless of where you're from. At Seattle University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 4,062 undergrads, Seattle University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
75.5% of Seattle University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 20.7 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $56,721 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Seattle University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $128,314 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $111,410 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $102,249 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $99,791 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $97,466 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $96,218 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $90,918 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $88,308 |
| Civil Engineering | $81,559 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $81,464 |
| Mathematics | $80,592 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $78,906 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $74,018 |
| Marketing | $72,518 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,360 |
| International Business | $69,201 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $64,098 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $63,465 |
| Political Science and Government | $63,443 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $62,385 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $61,021 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $60,291 |
| Biology, General | $58,242 |
| Psychology, General | $57,993 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $57,599 |
| Social Work | $57,349 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $57,093 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $56,590 |
| Security Science and Technology | $56,265 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $53,117 |
Median earnings for these 30 Seattle University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $75,272 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 34 additional Seattle University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Seattle University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1130–1350 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 76.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Seattle University's acceptance rate?
76% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 6,826 admitted from 8,976 applicants.
How much does Seattle University cost?
At Seattle University, published tuition is $56,721 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Seattle University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Seattle University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $75,272 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Washington
- Seattle Pacific University — 83.4% admitted
- University of Puget Sound — 72.3% admitted
- Pacific Lutheran University — 78% admitted
- Northwest University — 83.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.