Seattle University

Seattle, WA · WestQuad's selectivitySelective

Known forVery diverseTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Seattle admits about 8 in 10 applicants (77%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 50% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

77%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

8,468

Admitted

6,514

Yield

14%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1200–1430

10001600

ACT middle 50%

23–30

1836

Applications +15% since fall 2014 · admit rate 73% → 77%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 4,062 undergrads, where 24% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

4.1K

undergrads · larger than 74% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

24%

below the median

First generation

19%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I · Western Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad

More diverse · index 0.74 → 0.79 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (22% of graduates). 10 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 76% of colleges. 67% of faculty are full-time. Spends $18,739 a year on instruction per student.

10 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 76% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $38,297 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $14K more than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $36,948 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $73,613.

48%

$38.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $14K above the national median

Full price: $73,613 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 31% · avg $30K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 48% of full price

Federal loans

49%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −18% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $75,272 ten years after enrolling, more than at 88% of colleges; 75% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.0 years of that salary.

75%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$75.3K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$19.9K

≈ $211/month for 10 years

Retention

84%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 78% → 76% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 18%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 15% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 73% to 77%.

Cost
Falling
−18% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+15%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 73% → 77%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.74 → 0.79

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Biola University

74% admit · SAT 1265 · 3.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

Compare side-by-side

Pratt Institute-Main

73% admit · SAT 1270 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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School of the Art Institute of Chicago

77% admit · 2.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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Pepperdine University

67% admit · SAT 1335 · 3.6K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso West

Compare side-by-side

Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Seattle University (2026)
Seattle University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 236595 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything