Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Seattle Pacific University #811 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,128 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Seattle Pacific University in the 83.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Seattle Pacific University #347 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Seattle Pacific University #811 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Seattle, WA, Seattle Pacific University enrolls roughly 1,762 undergraduates. Retention is 72.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 62.0%, reflecting solid institutional support for degree completion. Where Seattle Pacific University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Seattle Pacific University #347 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,115, and Seattle Pacific University sits in the 83.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family is Health, which aligns with strong regional labor-market demand and contributes to the solid earnings outcomes graduates achieve. Access and affordability anchor the composite at different levels. Seattle Pacific University enrolls 35.3% Pell-eligible students and 22.9% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the institution in the 32.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 27.1 percentile, reflecting the tuition structure and financial aid availability typical of private doctoral/professional universities. Mobility outcomes place Seattle Pacific University in the 35.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating that graduates move into stable career pathways at rates consistent with peer institutions.
Seattle Pacific University's published cost of attendance is $56,826. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $20,735, families in the lower-middle range pay around $18,559, middle-income families pay about $19,332, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $27,976, and higher-income families pay around $29,819. Azimuth ranks Seattle Pacific University #1039 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Seattle Pacific's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The university participates in federal loan programs and works with families to construct aid packages that combine grants, scholarships, and loans. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the specific aid-to-sticker ratio varies by income level and individual circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,687; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,115, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Seattle Pacific University is a strong fit for students drawn to health-oriented fields who want a private university experience in Seattle, WA. The university's program mix is concentrated in Health, which represents 12% of degrees. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,115, placing Seattle Pacific University in the 72.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $8,128 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Seattle Pacific University in the 83.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 35.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.9% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Seattle Pacific University in the 72.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 83.4% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors health-oriented fields over STEM or business. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes in WA's regional labor market.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Seattle Pacific University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Seattle Pacific University's published cost of attendance is $56,826. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $20,735, families in the lower-middle range pay around $18,559, middle-income families pay about $19,332, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $27,976, and higher-income families pay around $29,819.
Azimuth ranks Seattle Pacific University #1039 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Seattle Pacific's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The university participates in federal loan programs and works with families to construct aid packages that combine grants, scholarships, and loans.
The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the specific aid-to-sticker ratio varies by income level and individual circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,687; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,115, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Seattle Pacific University earn median 4-year earnings of $70,115, placing Seattle Pacific University in the 72.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,128 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Seattle Pacific University in the 83.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Seattle Pacific University #347 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Seattle Pacific University's concentration in health and applied professional fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 92 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $93,334, delivering 1.1× the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 72 students earning $58,749, and the The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 62 students earning $84,493.
Together, these three programs anchor the institution's earnings profile and reflect the dominant health-sciences focus that characterizes Seattle Pacific University's degree output.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dominican University New York Similar quality tier (#21425 ranked) | NY | 63% | $61,171 | #21425 | Compare |
Baker University Similar quality tier (#21418 ranked) | KS | 94% | $63,855 | #21418 | Compare |
University Of Indianapolis Similar quality tier (#21411 ranked) | IN | 67% | $53,610 | #21411 | Compare |
Everglades University Similar quality tier (#21407 ranked) | FL | 81% | $47,597 | #21407 | Compare |
Rivier University Similar quality tier (#21398 ranked) | NH | 83% | $52,248 | #21398 | Compare |
Computer Science
29 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
92 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
62 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
8 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
11 graduates
Seattle Pacific University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied sciences, reflecting the institution's identity as a private, faith-based university in the Pacific Northwest. Nursing is the largest program with 92 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Business/Commerce, General, Design and Applied Arts, and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences.
The Health concentration — which includes nursing, health sciences, and related clinical pathways — accounts for a substantial share of degree output across 32 total programs, with 0 programs meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's health-professions focus.
Computer Science leads with median earnings of $133,039 four years after enrollment across 29 graduates, followed by Nursing at $93,334 with 92 graduates and Business/Commerce, General at $84,493. Design and Applied Arts and Communication and Media Studies round out the highest-earning programs, with graduates earning $68,547 and $62,411 respectively.
This earnings distribution aligns with the institution's program portfolio, where health-related fields typically offer stable, in-demand career pathways with consistent wage growth. Many of Seattle Pacific University's dominant programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes — particularly nursing and health-sciences programs where graduates enter clinical and administrative roles with clear salary trajectories.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these health-professions fields align with national workforce demand and long-term career stability. Across the institution's 684 annual graduates, the concentration in health and applied sciences positions students for careers in sectors with sustained hiring and wage growth.
