Seattle Pacific University (SPU) is a Christian private university in Seattle, Washington, within the Queen Anne / urban Seattle community. It is a small school with around 1,776 undergraduate students. The admissions are moderately competitive with an acceptance rate of around 91.1%. Nursing, Business, Psychology, Education, and Social Sciences are popular majors. The six-year graduation rate is around 65–66%, and SPU graduates have a median salary of approximately $44,979 ten years after matriculating based on available data.
Seattle University (SU) is a private Jesuit Catholic university in Seattle, Washington, located in the Capitol Hill / central Seattle neighborhood. The school is of mid-size with around 4,000+ full-time undergraduate students. Admissions are moderately competitive, with a recent acceptance rate of around 85%. Most popular majors are Business, Nursing, Computer Science, Engineering, and Liberal Arts / Social Sciences. The graduation rate of 75% is achieved within six years, and SU alumni have a median salary of approximately $60,400 ten years post-enrollment as per available statistics.
| Seattle University | Seattle Pacific University | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 1201 QS World University 2026 # 1201 QS World University 2025 # 163 US News 2024 | # 269 US News 2024 # 169 US News 2019 # 289 Forbes 2019 |
| Subject Strength | # 127 for Law by US News 2025 | - |
| Programs | UG Programs -49 PG Programs -14 | UG Programs -81 PG Programs -12 |
| Acceptance Rate | 75.0 % | 91.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6 SAT-1130 TOEFL-68 | IELTS-6.5 PTE-56 SAT-1060 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 48510 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 15249 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 28314 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 42480 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 20400 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 25380 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Around 97% of the post graduates get employed after completing their education. Some of the top employers of the university graduates inlcude Amazon, Costco wholesale, Deloitte, E&Y, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Peace Corps etc. Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Bachelor of Science: $135,000 MBA: $92,000 Master (Other): $80,000 Bachelor of Arts: $63,000 Masters of Arts: $45,000 | 93% of graduates surveyed one year after graduation were either employed, attending graduate school, serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or engaging in volunteer service positions. There are 13 Fortune 500 companies in Seattle — and SPU students have worked at all of them. $44,763 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit standardized test scores Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements | Submit academic records of all previous education Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements |
Top Courses Comparison
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 86/120 | Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 86/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -14004 |
| application dates | May 1, 2025 (Priority Application Deadline For Round 1 Fall 2025 Intake) Jul 1, 2025 (Priority Application Deadline For Round 2 Fall 2025 Intake) | Sep 1, 2023 (Application Deadline For Winter Intake) Dec 1, 2023 (Application Deadline For Spring Intake) Jun 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For Autumn Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Seattle University | Seattle Pacific University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1891 | 1891 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 38% Male, 62% Female | 33% Male, 67% Female |
| Location Facts | Seattle University has a 50-acre (200,000 m2) campus in the city's First Hill neighborhood, east of downtown Seattle. | The university sits on a 43-acre campus at the northern end of Queen Anne Hill, near the Fremont neighborhood and approximately four miles north of downtown Seattle. SPU also owns and operates two satellite campuses: a wilderness field station specializing in biology on Blakely Island in the San Juan Islands and Camp Casey, a former U.S. military fort re-purposed as a conference and retreat facility on Whidbey Island. |
| Library | Lemieux Library integrates comprehensive collections, flexible and personalized services, innovative instructional programs, collaborative relationships, and enabling technologies – operating in, and accessible through, the physical and the digital environments – to make a powerful impact on the educational and scholarly processes of inquiry, discovery, teaching, and learning for the Seattle University academic community. The university also has a law library. | The SPU Library provides collections, instruction, technology, spaces, and personnel to advance teaching, learning, and scholarship at Seattle Pacific University. Library’s local collections include digital, print, and archival resources and, through the Orbis Cascade Alliance, it provides access to the collections of over thirty other academic libraries in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. |
| Campus Life | At Seattle U, student life is not one-dimensional—it’s about mind, body and spirit. The university’s Jesuit mission focuses on educating the whole person, which means you will learn and grow inside and outside the classroom, as it form leaders for a just and humane world. And the setting in the heart of Seattle means you can explore all the culture, arts and economic opportunities that a world-class city offers. Living on campus is a vital component of a student's educational journey at Seattle University, where you can develop your own Redhawk community. In the heart of a thriving city, the university is committed to providing cost-effective housing options as well as a safe and welcoming environment. University Recreation inspires, educates, and empowers the Seattle University community to live happier, healthier, more successful lives. A wide variety of facilities are available for UREC members including outdoor tennis courts, two basketball courts, outdoor and indoor multi-use turf fields, racquetball courts, functional exercise studio, cardio floor, strength floor, gender neutral restrooms and both wet and dry locker rooms. Seattle University provides academic services designed to complement your education and help with your immersion into university life. You’ll find all of the offices are unified in our support of you, each of the university staff dedicated to helping you soar. | Seattle Pacific University has five residence halls. The university offers other on-campus residence options, such as the Cremona and Wesley apartments, and other small suite- or apartment-style living facilities for continuing students. The Office of Student Life, supports students on their journey, with programs and services that promote excellence and values in academics, in student leadership, on the athletic field, and in your walk with God. The intent of the university is to enable students to engage in experiences that will help them grow and show Falcon pride, through special events and opportunities that underscore the University’s mission. With more than 50 clubs and countless more opportunities to connect, you are bound to find your thing at SPU. At SPU, the university seeks to provide students with a transformative and holistic experience. The Wellness Initiative provides co-curricular opportunities that aim to help students maintain physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $12072 #Off campus (not with family) - $12072 #Off campus (with family) - $4170 | #On campus - $11232 #Off campus (not with family) - $11232 #Off campus (with family) - $2916 |
| Famous Alumni | Mohamed Alabbar, founder and Chairman of Emaar Properties, known for large-scale projects such as Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world Madeline Ashby (2005), science fiction writer; author of Company Town | Brian Fennell, singer/songwriter in SYML and Barcelona |
| City Life | Seattle is consistently ranked among the 10 best places to live in the United States by U.S. News, and for good reason. Not only is Seattle surrounded by lush evergreen forests, but the city is famous for being environmentally friendly. Plus, its residents earn above-average incomes. Living in Seattle is almost twice as expensive as the United States’ average. In other words, Seattle one of the more expensive cities in the country. The largest expense is housing, whether you’re renting or purchasing a home. Transportation is also a significant cost for Seattleites, but the exorbitant costs end there. However, in many other categories, such as groceries and healthcare, Seattle residents pay a similar amount to many other Americans. Forbes has ranked Seattle as the top city in America for technology jobs. Nation-leading job growth in tech-specific and STEM-related fields are to thank for that. Tech businesses abound in Seattle, including everything from investor-funded startups to well-established tech giants. Microsoft and Amazon lead the way in the Seattle tech industry. Boeing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the University of Washington fill out the city’s top five employer list. Other big tech organizations of note include Expedia, Tableau Software, and Nintendo of America. | The natural beauty of Seattle – it's surrounded by both mountains and water on two sides – is one of the biggest draws for residents. The scenery and proximity to nature, perhaps, contribute to Seattle's inherent attitude: one of calm and patience. Locals are mocked for always allowing others to merge on the freeway, but that attitude extends to everyday life, where coffee shops harbor intellectual discussions, and nightlife is more about chilling with a beer at the bar than wild nights on the dance floor. For those who can afford it, living in Seattle is worth the cost. The restaurants are famous for fresh seafood. And while the music scene took a little longer to gain fame than the cuisine – gaining notoriety during the mid-1980s and early '90s with the emergence of bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden – it continues to churn out stars of all stripes, including Macklemore and Modest Mouse. Large tech companies bring in money and the young, wealthy people who earn it, driving up the housing costs and increasing the stark socio-economic divides. Although the average Seattlite earns more than the average American, Seattle is one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S., and the high cost of living has been pushing low-income residents out of the city proper to suburbs, or even other metro areas. |
| Weather |
Seattle Pacific University vs Seattle University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both SPU and SU are prominent Seattle private universities, but SU tends to have better career rates and higher median alumni salaries. SU is more consistently ranked in terms of mid-career earnings among Washington universities. SPU is smaller in research/profile scope; its best areas are undergraduate education in Education, Psychology, Nursing, and Social Sciences. SU offers more general programs, such as stronger professional programs, which result in greater visibility and salary results from alumni.
General Information
SU is larger than SPU when it comes to undergraduates enrolled and overall students. SPU has approximately 1,776 undergrads; SU has more than 4,000 full-time undergrads. SU's campus is urban and comprises numerous programs with graduate and professional degrees; SPU has graduate programs but is smaller and provides more personal class sizes. The campus culture at SPU focuses on faith-centered community, whereas SU blends its Jesuit mission with strong ties into Seattle's business, technology, healthcare, and legal communities.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
SPU has an acceptance rate of around 91.1%, SU's is around 85%. SU has slightly higher academic profile means in terms of admitted students (rigor, SAT/ACT) than SPU, but both accept large numbers of students and both practice holistic admissions. SPU has a smaller applicant pool; SU has a larger national/international applicant base for many of its majors. SPU's test-optional or test-flexible policies apply in most instances; SU also looks at multiple factors beyond standardized testing.
Research Impact & Facilities
SU has a greater research profile and output than SPU, with more professional, graduate, and doctoral programs; more institutional resources; more robust labs and professional school facilities (e.g. law, business, health). SPU places greater emphasis on undergraduate education, teaching, and applied work in assisting professions, education, community outreach, etc. SU gains an advantage for Seattle-based partnerships with tech, healthcare, law, etc. SPU's facilities are solid in terms of size but more modest and geared towards smaller cohorts and hands-on instruction than toward large-scale research.
Cost & Financial Aid
SPU's sticker price (tuition + fees + room & board) is high; but net price (after aid) is considerably lower, with many students receiving grants or scholarships. SPU's net price in recent years is approximately $28,700 in comparable projections compared to more than $60,000 sticker price. SU is more costly, particularly for most students who do not qualify for full aid, but after financial aid, net cost remains high. SU also provides very liberal financial aid, scholarships, etc., so most students do not pay full sticker price.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
SU alumni make a greater median salary some $60,400 ten years after joining school, against SPU's some $44,979 over the same duration. SU's six-year graduation rate (~ 75%) is better than SPU's (~ 65-66%). SU alumni tend to reap the benefits of its stronger professional and graduate program ties, internships, Seattle networking, etc. SPU graduates perform well especially in service, faith, education, healthcare, non-profit, and allied fields, although their median income is lower than for SU.
