Here I bring that information to you. It all comes from federal sources—IPEDS and the Department of Education—and it is all dated, because the year matters. My job is not to tell you whether this university is “good” or “bad” for your child. No one can tell you that without knowing your child. My job is to put before you what the official record actually says, so that when the time comes to decide, you can decide with your eyes open.
What Kind of University It Is
Let’s start with the basics. Seattle University is a private, nonprofit, four-year-or-more institution. It is in the city of Seattle, Washington, within King County, in a city with a population of 250,000 or more according to the census code the government uses. That does not tell you how to get to campus from where you would live or what is nearby—you have to handle that yourself, literally: if your child plans to live at home, travel the route on a weekday at the time of their classes. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
The Carnegie system, which is how the government classifies universities based on what they do, places it among doctoral and professional universities. Using more specific data from 2019-20, it describes Seattle University as a medium-sized, highly residential four-year school: at that time, at least half of degree-seeking undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing, and at least 80 out of every 100 attended full time. “Highly residential” is a label describing housing patterns, not a recommendation about whether moving is right for your child. You decide that with your child, not a government file.
In another classification from 2021, it also appears among institutions that receive many transfer students. If your child plans to come here after studying at another university, this is a sign, not a guarantee: ask in writing which courses will count and which will not. The label does not say how many credits people arrive with or how many they lose in the transition.
On the academic side, IPEDS records the doctoral degree as the highest level the institution reports offering and classifies it as an institution that awards primarily bachelor’s degrees or higher. Neither fact tells you whether the specific major your child is interested in exists here or whether it connects undergraduate and graduate study. That must be verified program by program.
One note worth clarifying right away: Seattle University is not recorded as a historically Black college or university (HBCU), tribal college or university, or land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this federal directory, 138 have at least one of those three designations; this one does not. That tells you nothing about how many Latino students are there or how your child will feel on that campus. You learn that by asking directly and speaking with people who already study there.
The Size of the Community and Who Else Is There
In the most recent official fall count, Seattle University had 7,182 enrolled students: neither among the smallest universities nor among the largest, but within the range of 5,000 to 9,999. But that large figure includes graduate students: it breaks down into 4,137 undergraduate and 3,045 graduate students. If your child is entering a bachelor’s-degree program, the figure that matters is 4,137, not the total. A substantial portion of this community consists of people who have already completed a degree and returned for another one.
Compared with the 941 selective private four-year schools that make up its comparison group in this census, Seattle University is on the larger side: between one and three out of every ten of those schools have more students.
And who makes up that undergraduate community? Fifteen out of every 100 students identified as Hispanic or Latino in the fall of 2023. They are not the majority, but they are not unusual either: compared with the 941 similar schools in this census, that figure is above the group’s midpoint without reaching the highest quartile. The limit of that comparison is worth stating: peers are grouped by school type, not by state, so it does not account for Washington’s particular demographic composition. It also does not extend to the level of individual majors.
Out of every 100 undergraduate students, 61 are women. Adults ages 25 to 64 are a minority: 5 out of every 100. And just over half of first-time students—54 out of every 100—reported living in Washington when they applied for admission. Nearly half come from out of state.
How the Academic Year Works
Here is a fact that sounds technical but changes real family plans: Seattle University uses the quarter system, not semesters. The year is divided into three periods of about 12 weeks each, with the possibility of a fourth period in the summer. If your child comes from a high school accustomed to thinking in semesters, or if at some point you consider a transfer between this university and another one, verify in writing how the calendars align and how credits are recognized between the two institutions. That checkbox in the federal report does not tell you whether the dates line up.
The university reported that it accepts credit for AP exams, but it did not check the box for credit for life experience. And here is the fine print many families overlook: saying that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam. The report does not say what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific major. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
It also reported that it does not enroll high school students in college courses for credit, so if your child is looking for that dual-enrollment path, they will not find it here.
What You Can Study There
Between July 2022 and June 2023, Seattle University awarded 1,148 bachelor’s degrees across 23 distinct fields of study families—what the government calls CIP families. The family awarding the most degrees was health professions, with 23 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year—no other area surpassed it, but it did not account for the entire total either. The offerings are distributed, not concentrated in a single area.
Compared with the 942 similar schools in this census, Seattle University is in the quartile with the most fields of study families represented in its bachelor’s-degree detail. That suggests a broad range of offerings. But be careful: 23 families with a row in the report are not the same as 23 complete majors, nor do they guarantee that each one awards many degrees—a row can report zero. Verify the exact program your child is interested in, using its full name.
As for the relationship between students and faculty, the official ratio is 10 students per full-time-equivalent faculty member. Compared with the 941 similar schools, it falls below the median—in other words, it is a relatively low ratio. But this figure does not tell you the actual size of first-year classes; it is an institution-wide aggregate ratio, not a promise about every classroom.
Regarding structured opportunities, the institution specifically reports study abroad.
Paths to Admission: Requirements and Admissions
Seattle University does not have open admission. It reviews several components before saying yes, and of nine possible considerations included in this federal report, it marked six as required: the complete high school record, GPA, completion of the college-preparatory courses the university requires, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, and an English proficiency exam when applicable. This application is lengthy. Each component takes time to assemble, not just one night.
It also considers, though does not require, your child’s class rank, work experience, and whether a family member attended the university. On that last point: if it does not apply to your child, do not waste energy worrying about it. Put that energy into what is within your control.
The undergraduate application fee is $60.
Now, the figure most parents want to know first: of the 8,976 first-time applicants in the most recent cycle, 6,826 received an offer of admission. That is 76 out of every 100. Compared with the 942 similar schools in this census, that figure is common, slightly above the group’s midpoint. Your child has a real reason to apply here and also a reason to submit a complete application on time. But remember: that 76% is from a single cycle, not a permanent rule of the institution. When it is time for your child to apply, check the figure for that specific year again.
Here is something that often confuses families: out of every 100 admitted students, only 15 ultimately enrolled at Seattle University that fall. The remaining 85 had a place but did not accept it. Do not read that as a mark against the university. The federal record does not explain why each person made their choice, and what others decided tells you nothing about what the university will offer you. What matters is waiting for your own letter with the net price—that is what the year will actually cost your family, and with that figure in hand, you can decide whether this school stays on the list.
Regarding standardized tests, neither the SAT nor the ACT is required. Of the students who enrolled, only 24 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and among them, the middle half scored between 570 and 670 in reading and writing and between 560 and 680 in mathematics. Those ranges describe students who enrolled and chose to submit their scores, not all applicants; that 570 is not a minimum, nor is that 670 a guarantee.
Regarding transfers into this university: in the most recent fall, 284 undergraduate students entered Seattle University for the first time after studying at another institution. Compared with its 942 peers, it is among those reporting the largest numbers of incoming transfer students—although this is a count, not a proportion; a large school may count more people simply because of its size. How many credits were accepted for those 284 students is a separate question, and one to ask the school directly.
What It Costs: Sticker Price and Actual Price
At Seattle University, among 108 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $23,374. Among 85 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $30,151; among 271 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $42,970. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $19,596 between the average for the lowest-income band (108 students) and the average for the highest-income band (271 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $37,103.
Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same period coverage, Seattle University is in the most expensive quartile for the lowest-income families. That does not mean you should rule it out. It means you should request the financial aid letter before deciding.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The letter that matters is the financial aid letter sent to you.
Financial Aid: What Students Receive and What They Borrow
Ninety-five out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some form of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. Here, receiving aid is the norm, not the exception. Among those who received it, the average was $31,320 for the year—a large figure, but an average that includes people who received much more and people who received much less. The federal Pell Grant, reserved for low-income families, reached 22 out of every 100 students.
An average grant or scholarship amount of $31,320 is real money, but it is not a price. What determines the actual cost is the amount left after aid, and you know that amount only from your own letter.
Regarding loans, 46 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan in the 2022-23 school year—more than four out of ten. Among those who borrowed, the average amount per borrower that year was $6,892. Financing with debt is common here. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year during the four years of a bachelor’s-degree program, the total would be around $27,568, not counting interest—and that is only federal debt in the student’s name; it does not include anything parents borrow separately, credit cards, or bank debt.
That percentage describes other families, not yours. The amount your child would have to borrow comes from their own financial aid letter. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
The institution also reports an installment tuition payment plan and participation in a Promise-type program as additional ways to manage the cost.
Campus Life, Sports, and Support
Seattle University does have institution-controlled housing, and it reported that it does not require all first-time students to live there—which does not mean that no program has such a requirement; ask directly. It offers meal plans, but the number of meals per week varies by plan. IPEDS reports a maximum housing capacity of 2,448 students, on or off campus. Ask in writing for the rate for the year, the housing application deadline, and whether a space is guaranteed or you will be placed on a waiting list.
ROTC is available, and unusually, all three branches are marked: Army, Navy, and Air Force. Only 135 of the 3,012 universities in this directory mark all three. That gives you someone to call, but it does not confirm available slots, scholarships, or that the program operates on this specific campus. Ask about each branch separately.
The university competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported participation in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If sports are part of your child’s plan, write directly to the coach for that specific sport: ask whether there is a place available, which division the team competes in, and whether athletic scholarships are available.
Regarding distance education, it is offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, but in the fall count, fewer than 1 out of every 100 undergraduate students took their entire course load at a distance. The university reported offering at least one complete distance-education program, but this does not confirm that it is an undergraduate program or in the major that interests your child. Confirm it in writing.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual expenditures exceed the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government. It has physical and digital collections and participates in interlibrary lending. That confirms that a structure exists; it does not confirm the availability of specific databases for your child’s major—ask for those by name.
Among the services and support the institution reports are combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students and placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans, a point of contact for military service members and their families, a student veterans organization, and a webpage dedicated to services for people with disabilities.
How Many Stay and How Many Graduate
Of the cohort of 987 first-time, full-time students who entered in the fall of 2022, 835 were still enrolled or had already graduated one year later: 85 out of every 100. Compared with 930 similar schools, that figure is in the upper part of the group. It is a good indication that most of those who enter stay—but remember that it combines two distinct groups, those still enrolled and those who had already graduated, without separating them, so it is not the same as a graduation rate.
And speaking of graduation: of the cohort that entered in 2017, 695 out of 948 students had earned their degrees six years later. That is 73 out of every 100. At four years, the figure had already reached 66 out of every 100—just 7 points below the six-year result, suggesting that a substantial share of those who graduate do so within the expected time. Compared with 920 similar schools, Seattle University is in the top quartile: three out of four of those schools reported an equal or lower share of graduates.
Extending the window to eight years, using a different cohort that entered between 2015 and 2016, 77 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this institution. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 75 out of every 100—nearly identical to the rest. Compared with 935 similar schools, it is also in the top quartile.
Here is the hard truth that does not change no matter how good the figure looks: a high percentage is not a promise for your child. It is what happened to an earlier cohort under circumstances that are not your child’s. What is within your control and your child’s is entering with credits in order from the first day, knowing who the academic advisor is, and understanding from the first quarter when to register for the courses required for the major within the quarter system.
What This Record Cannot Tell You
This report does not include how much a Seattle University graduate earns or how quickly they find a job. That information is not part of what the government reports here, and I am not going to invent it or imply it using other figures.
How to Combine This With Your Own Information
You now know, in as much depth as the official data allows, one of the three pieces you need to decide: who Seattle University is in numbers—its size, calendar, selectivity, actual cost by income band, and graduation outcomes.
The other two pieces are not in any federal file. They are in your home. One is what your child wants to study, what they have built during high school, and how far away they imagine living while studying.
If your child is just beginning to build a list, this information helps determine whether it is worth investing the time in an application that requires a substantial amount of paperwork. If your child has already been admitted and is waiting for the financial aid letter, you now know what to ask and which figures to compare when it arrives.
No figure in this article makes the decision for you. But now, when you sit down to discuss it as a family, you will do so with the right map in hand.
The information in this article comes from IPEDS and the United States Department of Education, with the years and periods specified for each figure. Best College Aid does not represent Seattle University or any government agency; this article is not a substitute for the admission letter or financial aid letter the university sends directly to your family.