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Seattle Pacific University (SPU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings

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About Seattle Pacific University

Set in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood, Seattle Pacific University offers a calm, tree-lined campus within minutes of the city's creative energy. It's known for a solid liberal-arts core with strengths in business, engineering, education, health, and psychology. Faculty mentorship and a Christian ethos shape a culture that prizes inquiry, ethics, and service.

Students find a bright library, modern labs and studios, a lively student center, and a full-service rec hub, plus advising, tutoring, counseling, and dedicated career guidance. Life blends clubs, music and theater, intramurals, and outdoor trips from bay to mountains. Internships and networking tap Seattle's tech, healthcare, education, and nonprofit scenes. And tradition shows up in quiet chapel moments and the Ivy Cutting at graduation.

Key Institutional Details

Contact & Profile

Location
3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle, Washington, 98119, USA
Website
spu.edu
Unit ID
236577

Academic & Institutional

Control
Private non-profit institution (tuition + donations)
Accreditation
NWCCU
Length of Study
Programs under 2 years (e.g. certificate or diploma)
Calendar System
Quarter system (four terms per year: fall, winter, spring, summer)
Award Levels
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
Campus Setting
Located in a large city (population of 250,000 or more)
Carnegie Classification
Doctoral - R3 (Moderate Research)
Tuition & Fees
In-State
$38,814
Tuition $37,965 + Fee $849
Out-of-State
$38,814
Tuition $37,965 + Fee $849
Student Profile
Total Students 2,659
Undergraduate 2,073
Graduate/Other 586
Male: 850 Female: 1,809
Applications
Total Applicants 2,806
Admitted 2,556
Enrolled 382
Acceptance: 91.1% Yield: 14.9%
Staff
Total Staff 679
Full-time 464
Part-time 215
Full-time: 68.3% Part-time: 31.7%

Academic Programs & Fields of Study

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) offers 80 degree programs across 24 major academic fields, graduating approximately 1,116 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Education (14 programs, 320 graduates), Health (5 programs, 149 graduates), Psychology (4 programs, 138 graduates), Business (4 programs, 93 graduates) and Biological Sciences (7 programs, 58 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.

Education (14 programs, 320 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Teacher Education and Professional Development 157
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
13.1299
Secondary Education and Teaching 53
Master's
13.1205
School Counseling and Guidance 32
Postbac Cert.
Master's
13.1101
General Education 24
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
13.0101
Educational and Curriculum Supervision 14
Postbac Cert.
13.0404
Educational Leadership and Administration 7
Master's
13.0401
Higher Education Administration 7
Doctorate (R)
13.0406
Instructional Technology 7
Master's
13.0501
Curriculum and Instruction 6
Bachelor's
Master's
13.0301
Reading Teacher Education 5
Master's
13.1315
Special Education Teaching 4
Bachelor's
13.1001
Science Teacher Education 2
Master's
13.1316
Early Childhood Education 1
Bachelor's
13.1210
Music Teacher Education 1
Bachelor's
13.1312
Health (5 programs, 149 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Registered Nursing 89
Bachelor's
51.3801
Marriage and Family Therapy 28
Master's
51.1505
Nursing Practice 20
Doctorate (R)
51.3818
Pre-Physical Therapy 11
Bachelor's
51.1109
Music Therapy 1
Bachelor's
51.2305
Psychology (4 programs, 138 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
General Psychology 87
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
42.0101
Industrial-Organizational Psychology 32
Master's
Doctorate (R)
42.2804
Clinical Psychology 10
Doctorate (R)
42.2801
Experimental Psychology 9
Master's
42.2799
Business (4 programs, 93 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Business Administration 71
Bachelor's
52.0101
Accounting 12
Bachelor's
52.0301
Fashion Merchandising 8
Bachelor's
52.1902
Business Administration and Management 2
Master's
52.0299
Biological Sciences (7 programs, 58 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
General Physiology 27
Bachelor's
26.0901
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 9
Bachelor's
26.0908
Ecology 7
Bachelor's
26.1301
Biology and Biological Sciences 6
Bachelor's
26.0101
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 4
Bachelor's
26.9999
Biochemistry 3
Bachelor's
26.0202
Cell and Molecular Biology 2
Bachelor's
26.0406
Arts (11 programs, 57 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Design and Visual Communications 9
Bachelor's
50.0401
Fashion and Apparel Design 9
Bachelor's
50.0407
Music 9
Bachelor's
50.0901
Theatre Arts 7
Bachelor's
50.0501
Interior Design 6
Bachelor's
50.0408
Art Studies 6
Bachelor's
50.0701
Film and Media Studies 3
Bachelor's
50.0601
Art History and Conservation 3
Bachelor's
50.0703
Visual and Performing Arts 2
Bachelor's
50.0101
Illustration 2
Bachelor's
50.0410
Costume Design 1
Bachelor's
50.0510
Social Sciences (4 programs, 47 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Sociology 18
Bachelor's
45.1101
Political Science and Government 17
Bachelor's
45.1001
Economics 10
Bachelor's
45.0601
Criminology 2
Bachelor's
45.0401
Computer & IT (3 programs, 39 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Computer Science 24
Bachelor's
11.0701
Data Modeling and Database Administration 11
Master's
11.0802
Computer and Information Technology Administration and Management 4
Bachelor's
Master's
11.1099
English (2 programs, 39 graduates)
English Literature, Creative Writing and Literary Analysis
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
English Language and Literature 26
Bachelor's
23.0101
Creative Writing 13
Master's
23.1302
Liberal Arts (2 programs, 37 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Liberal Arts and Sciences 34
Bachelor's
24.0101
General Studies 3
Bachelor's
24.0102

Admission Requirements & Test Scores

Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Seattle Pacific University (SPU).

Application Requirements

Secondary School GPA
Required
Secondary School Rank
Neither required nor recommended
Secondary School Record
Required
College Preparatory Program
Neither required nor recommended
Recommendations
Required
Formal Demonstration of Competencies
Neither required nor recommended
English Proficiency Test (TOEFL)
Required
Personal Statement or Essay
Neither required nor recommended
Standardized Test Scores
SAT Scores
The SAT is a standardized college admission test measuring reading, writing, and math skills. Scores range from 400-1600 (combined Evidence-Based Reading & Writing + Math sections).
Composite Score Range
1050 - 1320
25th-75th percentile
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 530 - 660
Median: 600
Math 520 - 660
Median: 600
ACT Scores
The ACT is a standardized test for college admissions assessing English, math, reading, and science reasoning. Scores range from 1-36 (composite of all sections).
Composite Score Range
20 - 28
25th-75th percentile
English 19 - 29
Median: 23
Math 18 - 26
Median: 23

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.

Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs

Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students

Estimated Total Cost
(In-state)
$58,968
Estimated Total Cost
(Out-state)
$58,968
In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$38,814
Tuition and fees for students residing in-state
Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$38,814
Tuition and fees for non-resident students
Room & Board
$15,498
Housing and meal plan expenses
Books & Supplies
$768
Average yearly cost of books and study materials
Other Expenses
$3,888
Miscellaneous personal and institutional expenses
Other Expenses (with family)
$3,888
Estimated cost for students living with family
Graduate In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$20,850
Graduate tuition rates for in-state students
Graduate Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$20,850
Graduate tuition rates for non-resident students

Financial Aid & Student Support

Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students

22%
FTFT Aid Recipients
Avg. Grant
$28,070
Avg. Loan
$6,358
Avg. Federal Loan
$5,106
Additional
Students with Any Grant
524
Students who received any type of grant aid
Students with Any Loan
290
Students who received any type of loan-based aid
Students with Federal Grant
209
Students who received a federal grant
Avg. Institutional Grant
$21,946
Average amount of institutional grant awarded

Student Success Metrics

Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.

62%
Graduation Rate
Percentage of students who successfully graduate from the institution
75%
First-Year Retention Rate
Percentage of first-year students who continue for a second year
Median Earnings Over Time
$39,567 – $97,253
Salary Range (25th–75th Percentile, 10 Years)
$39,567 (25th %) $97,253 (75th %)
*Median Salary After 10 Years: $64,506
Median Salary After 6 Years
$51,496
Average annual earnings of former students six years after starting college.
Median Salary After 10 Years
$64,506
Average annual earnings of former students ten years after starting college.

Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes

Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.

3-Year Loan Repayment Rate
78.8%
Share of borrowers who repaid loans within 3 years
Repayment Rate (Graduates Only)
86.8%
Repayment rate among students who completed their program
Median Student Loan Debt
$24,000
Median federal loan debt of undergraduate completers at time of graduation.
Repayment by Income
Low 71.5%
Middle 78.7%
High 83.6%
Repayment by Dependency
Dependent 81.2%
Independent 61.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Seattle Pacific University (SPU)

How much does it cost to attend Seattle Pacific University (SPU)?

The annual tuition at Seattle Pacific University (SPU) is $38,814 for in-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $58,968 for in-state students. Additional costs include room and board $15,498 and books and supplies $768.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.

What academic programs and degree levels does Seattle Pacific University offer?

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) offers 80 academic programs across 24 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (1-2 yrs), Certificate (≥2 yrs), Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research).

Most popular program areas include:

  • Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (14 programs)
  • Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (5 programs)
  • Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies (4 programs)
  • Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (4 programs)
  • Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (7 programs)

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.

What is the acceptance rate for Seattle Pacific University?

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) has an 91.1% acceptance rate and a 14.9% yield rate, making it moderately selective.

Admission statistics breakdown:

  • Total applicants: 2,806
  • Students admitted: 2,556
  • Students enrolled: 382

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.

What financial aid and scholarships are available at Seattle Pacific University?

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) provides financial aid to 22% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $28,070 and average loans of $6,358.

Average financial aid amounts by type:

  • Pell grants: $5,085
  • State/Local grants: $9,273
  • Institutional grants: $21,946
  • Federal loans: $5,106

The university supports 524 students with grants and 290 students with loans annually.

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.

What is the average salary for Seattle Pacific University graduates?

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) graduates earn a median salary of $51,496 after 6 years and $64,506 after 10 years.

The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $39,567 (25th percentile) to $97,253 (75th percentile).

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.

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