National university
#4 Best colleges in WashingtonSeattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $34,662 a year
Median debt at graduation: $19,883 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Upcoming admissions events
- College of Science & Engineering Virtual Information SessionOctober 21, 2026 · 9:00 AM–10:00 AM PT · VirtualMore about College of Science & Engineering Virtual Information SessionAdd to calendar
- School Counseling Programs Virtual Information SessionOctober 21, 2026 · 12:00 PM–1:00 PM PT · VirtualMore about School Counseling Programs Virtual Information SessionAdd to calendar
- Teacher Education Programs Virtual Information SessionOctober 21, 2026 · 12:00 PM–1:00 PM PT · VirtualMore about Teacher Education Programs Virtual Information SessionAdd to calendar
View all upcoming events · From the college's admissions website.
Campus tour
Seattle University Aerial Campus Tour (2020) · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#53 of 1,046
- Best colleges for social work in America#49 of 605
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#78 of 950
- Best colleges for nursing in America#98 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#105 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#85 of 834
Show 20 more
- Best colleges for business in America#174 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#155 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#149 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#91 of 744
- Best colleges in America#259 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#201 of 1,418
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#261 of 1,829
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#203 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#192 of 1,283
- Best test-optional colleges in America#223 of 1,481
- Best colleges for history in America#201 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#193 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#204 of 1,215
- Best mid-size colleges in America#112 of 667
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#203 of 1,162
- Best colleges for music in America#190 of 1,063
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#201 of 1,116
- Best colleges for computer science in America#143 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#153 of 749
- Best colleges for economics in America#197 of 788
In Washington
- Best colleges for business in Washington#3 of 20
- Best colleges for education in Washington#3 of 20
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in Washington#2 of 13
- Best colleges in Washington#4 of 24
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Washington#4 of 24
- Best colleges for nursing in Washington#3 of 16
Show 21 more
- Best colleges for psychology in Washington#4 of 21
- Best colleges for marketing in Washington#2 of 10
- Best colleges for accounting in Washington#3 of 15
- Best test-optional colleges in Washington#4 of 20
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Washington#4 of 19
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Washington#3 of 14
- Best mid-size colleges in Washington#2 of 9
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Washington#4 of 18
- Best colleges for computer science in Washington#3 of 13
- Best colleges for history in Washington#4 of 17
- Best colleges for mathematics in Washington#4 of 17
- Best colleges for social work in Washington#2 of 8
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Washington#3 of 12
- Best colleges for art and design in Washington#4 of 16
- Best colleges for chemistry in Washington#4 of 16
- Best colleges for engineering in Washington#4 of 16
- Best colleges for English in Washington#4 of 16
- Best colleges for music in Washington#4 of 16
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Washington#4 of 16
- Best colleges for economics in Washington#4 of 13
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Washington#4 of 13
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.84%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,307 · ACT 26.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.10 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$18,739
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $72,124 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 4,137 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 40% · Women 60% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 19% |
| First-year students from another state Of first-time students whose home is a U.S. state, fall 2023 (IPEDS) | 44% |
| Total students | 7,182 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $34,662 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $72,124 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $19,883 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 76% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 74% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 74% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 78% |
| First-year retention | 84% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $75,272 |
| Admission rate | 77% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | $60 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 24% |
| Average SAT | 1307 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 620–710 |
| SAT math | 580–720 |
| ACT composite | 23–30 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Managerial economics | |
| Finance | |
| Accounting | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Nursing | |
| Clinical laboratory science | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Allied health | |
| Mathematics | |
| English | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Marketing | |
| Business administration | |
| International business | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Political science | |
| Film and video | |
| Broadcasting | |
| Writing and rhetoric | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology | |
| Communication studies | |
| Social work | |
| Romance languages | |
| Global studies | |
| Security science | |
| Design |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Applied mathematics, Area studies, Arts management, Biochemistry, Business (general), Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Chemistry, Computer engineering, Ecology and evolutionary biology, Economics, Ethnic and gender studies, Fine arts, German, Health administration, History, Journalism, Kinesiology and exercise science, Linguistics, Management science, Music, Other public administration and social service professions, Philosophy, Physical Sciences, Physics, Physiology and pathology, Public administration, Public relations, Religious studies, Secondary education, Sociology, Sociology and Anthropology, Theatre, Visual and performing arts.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Health professions | |
| Business | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 2% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 5% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $15,702 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Western Athletic Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 10 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 67%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $47,747Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 59% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI)About 6 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 754,1952020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | SeattleThe campus is in or next to this city |
| Average temperature in January | 43°F1991–2020 normal, from SEATTLE BOEING FLD, WA US, about 5 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 67°F1991–2020 normal, from SEATTLE BOEING FLD, WA US, about 5 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.00 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.28 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 3.76 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 1.95 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Seattle University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 14% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Seattle University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $34,662 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Seattle University?
- Seattle University admitted 77% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Seattle University’s graduates do?
- 76% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $75,272; the median federal debt at graduation is $19,883.
Ask the school
Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.
Reviews
Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.
No reviews yet.
Sign in to write a review.
My rating and notes
Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 236595
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Roman Catholic
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Seattle vs Gonzaga · Seattle vs Creighton · Seattle vs Xavier · Seattle vs Marquette
More in Washington · Washington rankings