At $34,802/yr net price, Seattle University graduates earn $75,272/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $41,272/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $34,802 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $139,208 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $75,272/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$41,272/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 73.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,883 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,374/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,900/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $30,151/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $38,105/yr |
| $110,001+ | $42,970/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $91,744 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $86,867 | $24,702 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $86,424 | $41,000 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $83,768 | $21,530 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $71,473 | $20,465 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $69,505 | $23,593 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $67,101 | $63,958 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $64,493 | |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | Bachelor | $63,749 | |
| Public Administration. | Master | $63,546 | $50,683 |
The Risk Factor
73.3% of students at Seattle University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 27% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Seattle University gives you a solid but uneven financial return. You graduate with about $19,883 in median debt against $75,272 in median earnings ten years out, so the debt-to-income math works in your favor. A 73% graduation rate and 84% retention mean you are likely to finish, which matters because the worst financial outcome at any private school is paying tuition and leaving without a degree.
Your major decides everything here. Allied health, computer science, and electrical engineering all clear $71,000, and computer science pays $83,768 while leaving you with roughly the same debt as engineering. That puts you in a strong spot given Seattle's tech and healthcare job market, where employers like Amazon, Microsoft, and the region's large hospital systems hire locally. Nursing pays $69,505 but carries higher debt at $23,593, so the return is thinner than the tech tracks. Business economics sits at the bottom of the listed programs at $63,749, which is fine but not what justifies a $34,802 sticker price on its own.
The main risk is price. At full cost this is an expensive school, and the net price climbs steeply with income. If your family earns over $110k, you pay nearly $43,000 a year, roughly double the $23,374 a family under $30k pays. Middle-income families in the $75-110k band face $38,105, close to full freight.
Seattle University is a good fit if you are heading into computing, engineering, health, or nursing and can hold your borrowing near the median. Look harder at the price if you are aiming at business economics or a lower-earning field, especially from a higher-income household paying $38,000 or more per year, where cheaper Washington public options may return more for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle University worth the cost?
Seattle University's $34,802 annual net price leads to median earnings of $75,272 after 10 years, which is reasonable but not exceptional for a private university. The relatively low median debt of $19,883 helps make the investment more manageable than many comparable schools.
What are the best paying majors at Seattle University?
Educational Administration ($91,744) and Allied Health programs ($86,867) offer the strongest financial returns at Seattle University. Business Administration and Computer Science also perform well, with median earnings above $83,000.
How much debt do Seattle University graduates typically have?
Seattle University graduates have a median debt load of $19,883, which is lower than the national average for private universities. This manageable debt level helps improve the overall return on investment despite the school's high tuition.
Does Seattle University have good job placement after graduation?
With a 73% graduation rate and 10-year median earnings of $75,272, Seattle University produces decent employment outcomes but nothing outstanding. The school's 85% acceptance rate suggests it's not highly selective, which can impact alumni networks and job prospects.