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Seattle University

Seattle University is a private campus in Seattle proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The school reports a Roman Catholic affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$23,374

family income
under $30k

$24,900

$30–48k

$30,151

$48–75k

$38,105

$75–110k

$42,970

over $110k

Average net price

$34,6622023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Seattle University rose from $26,889 (2008) to $34,662 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$26,889
2009	$29,093
2010	$26,328
2011	$29,567
2012	$33,557
2013	$32,996
2014	$34,164
2015	$33,170
2016	$35,006
2017	$34,947
2018	$34,802
2019	$35,109
2020	$35,518
2021	$33,700
2022	$34,802
2023	$34,662

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$72,1242024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Seattle University rose from $41,688 (2009) to $72,124 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$41,688
2010	$43,498
2011	$44,536
2012	$47,140
2013	$50,610
2014	$52,458
2015	$54,668
2016	$56,391
2017	$58,356
2018	$59,495
2019	$61,104
2020	$63,439
2021	$64,819
2022	$66,095
2023	$68,633
2024	$72,124

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$17,010
2001	$17,865
2002	$18,885
2003	$20,070
2004	$21,285
2005	$22,905
2006	$24,615
2007	$26,325
2008	$28,260
2013	$36,465
2014	$38,205
2015	$39,690
2016	$41,265
2017	$42,885
2018	$44,610
2019	$46,590
2020	$48,390
2021	$49,335
2022	$51,324
2023	$54,285

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $56,721 before grants and other attendance costs. At Seattle University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 4,062 undergrads, Seattle University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

75.5% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Seattle University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

75.5%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Seattle University rose from 55.4% (entered 1991) to 75.5% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	55.4%
1992 cohort	54.4%
1993 cohort	54.2%
1994 cohort	58.8%
1995 cohort	59.4%
1996 cohort	65.8%
1997 cohort	63.5%
1998 cohort	66.5%
1999 cohort	63.7%
2000 cohort	70.9%
2001 cohort	68.4%
2002 cohort	71.1%
2003 cohort	73.5%
2004 cohort	74.1%
2005 cohort	70.6%
2006 cohort	77.7%
2007 cohort	76.6%
2008 cohort	77.6%
2009 cohort	78.8%
2010 cohort	74.5%
2011 cohort	74.8%
2012 cohort	73.7%
2013 cohort	73.6%
2014 cohort	72.7%
2015 cohort	74.9%
2016 cohort	74.3%
2017 cohort	73.3%
2018 cohort	75.5%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$17,125	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$16,123	$10,910
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$15,283	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$16,000	$8,701
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$16,080	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$16,000	$10,375
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$16,166	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$16,417	$12,833
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$16,875	$13,625
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$16,500	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$16,816	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$18,125	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$19,125	$9,834
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$22,125	$7,507
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$23,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$24,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$25,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$24,635	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$23,000	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$22,637	$7,892
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$23,000	$7,667
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$22,398	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$20,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$19,883	$7,667

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$64,656

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$72,612

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$75,272

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Seattle University admitted 6,514 of 8,468 applicants in Fall 2024. The 76.9% rate describes that application pool.

76.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $54,285 tuition · 2023–24 4,062 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1200–14301600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Seattle University received 8,468 applications and admitted 6,514 (76.9%), with 888 enrolling.

Seattle University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Seattle University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 620–710 and Math was 580–720 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1200–1430 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	620	660	710
SAT Math	580	650	720
ACT Composite	23	27	30

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

76.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	80.1%
Fall 2002	82%
Fall 2003	77.8%
Fall 2004	73.6%
Fall 2005	67.6%
Fall 2006	64.7%
Fall 2007	63.7%
Fall 2008	65.3%
Fall 2009	66.3%
Fall 2010	71%
Fall 2011	70.5%
Fall 2012	71.5%
Fall 2013	73.2%
Fall 2014	73.4%
Fall 2015	73%
Fall 2016	73.6%
Fall 2017	73.8%
Fall 2018	75.6%
Fall 2019	78.5%
Fall 2020	83.2%
Fall 2021	82.1%
Fall 2022	85.2%
Fall 2023	76%
Fall 2024	76.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1200–1430Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1040	1250
Fall 2002	1000	1230
Fall 2003	1020	1240
Fall 2004	1030	1250
Fall 2005	1050	1250
Fall 2006	1050	1270
Fall 2007	1056	1270
Fall 2008	1040	1250
Fall 2009	1050	1280
Fall 2010	1050	1270
Fall 2011	1050	1260
Fall 2012	1070	1280
Fall 2013	1050	1270
Fall 2014	1060	1280
Fall 2015	1060	1280
Fall 2016	1070	1290
Fall 2017	1130	1330
Fall 2018	1130	1320
Fall 2019	1150	1320
Fall 2020	1130	1330
Fall 2021	1120	1330
Fall 2022	1150	1380
Fall 2023	1130	1350
Fall 2024	1200	1430

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

23–30Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	22	27
Fall 2002	23	29
Fall 2003	21	27
Fall 2004	22	27
Fall 2005	23	27
Fall 2006	22	27
Fall 2007	23	28
Fall 2008	22	28
Fall 2009	23	29
Fall 2010	24	29
Fall 2011	24	28
Fall 2012	24	29
Fall 2013	24	29
Fall 2014	24	29
Fall 2015	25	29
Fall 2016	25	30
Fall 2017	24	29
Fall 2018	24	30
Fall 2019	24	30
Fall 2020	24	30
Fall 2021	24	31
Fall 2022	24	30
Fall 2023	23	30
Fall 2024	23	30

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

4,062Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Seattle University rose from 3,527 (Fall 2002) to 4,062 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	3,527
Fall 2003	3,739
Fall 2004	3,893
Fall 2005	4,110
Fall 2006	4,134
Fall 2007	4,234
Fall 2008	4,168
Fall 2009	4,267
Fall 2010	4,530
Fall 2011	4,593
Fall 2012	4,559
Fall 2013	4,595
Fall 2014	4,415
Fall 2015	4,587
Fall 2016	4,648
Fall 2017	4,547
Fall 2018	4,674
Fall 2019	4,618
Fall 2020	4,230
Fall 2021	4,233
Fall 2022	4,033
Fall 2023	4,117
Fall 2024	4,062

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

84%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Seattle University has held near 84% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	84%
Fall 2003 cohort	82%
Fall 2004 cohort	87%
Fall 2005 cohort	85%
Fall 2006 cohort	87%
Fall 2007 cohort	87%
Fall 2008 cohort	90%
Fall 2009 cohort	89%
Fall 2010 cohort	86%
Fall 2011 cohort	87%
Fall 2012 cohort	86%
Fall 2013 cohort	87%
Fall 2014 cohort	84%
Fall 2015 cohort	87%
Fall 2016 cohort	84%
Fall 2017 cohort	85%
Fall 2018 cohort	88%
Fall 2019 cohort	82%
Fall 2020 cohort	85%
Fall 2021 cohort	82%
Fall 2022 cohort	85%
Fall 2023 cohort	84%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Seattle University

23.6% of Seattle University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Seattle University as a primarily residential campus of 4,062 undergraduates — and 84.2% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Seattle University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1200–1430 — their midpoint is above the WA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Seattle University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Seattle University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Seattle University76.9%

Washington median83.2%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Seattle University$56,721

Washington median$19,614

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Seattle University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Seattle University$75,272

Washington median$62,092

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Seattle University, Washington and national reference values
Metric & basis	Seattle University	Washington median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	76.9%	83.2%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$56,721	$19,614	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$75,272	$62,092	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Seattle University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Seattle University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 30 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	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

These 30 fields listed for Seattle University measure earnings after completion. The $75,272 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 34 additional Seattle University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Seattle University report?

Seattle University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1200–1430 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Seattle University's acceptance rate?

76.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 6,514 admitted from 8,468 applicants.

How much does Seattle University cost?

At Seattle University, tuition is $56,721. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Seattle University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $75,272. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Washington

Seattle Pacific University — 83.4% admitted
University of Puget Sound — 72.2% admitted
Pacific Lutheran University — 78% admitted
Northwest University — 83.2% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.