Seattle, WA · Private University
Is Seattle University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$75,272
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$54,285
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$54,285
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$217,140
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.39x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
5.4 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
73.3%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$19,883
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$34,802
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Seattle University graduates earn $30,272 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Seattle University ranked by graduate earnings
48 graduates
20 graduates
30 graduates
25 graduates
215 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Seattle University
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Seattle University, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $117,447) and the lowest (Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies: $31,966) is $85,481/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceBest ROI | $117,447 | 2.2x |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $96,973 | 1.8x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $91,473 | 1.7x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $86,784 | 1.6x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $82,480 | 1.5x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $81,022 | 1.5x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $70,134 | 1.3x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $70,076 | 1.3x |
| Civil Engineering(1yr data) | $69,151 | 1.3x |
| Marketing | $65,906 | 1.2x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $64,745 | 1.2x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(1yr data) | $63,496 | 1.2x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $62,478 | 1.1x |
| Mathematics(1yr data) | $57,551 | 1.1x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $55,317 | 1.0x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $54,308 | 1.0x |
| Biology, General | $52,518 | 1.0x |
| Political Science and Government | $52,211 | 1.0x |
| Psychology, General | $50,776 | 0.9x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $43,735 | 0.8x |
| Security Science and Technology(1yr data) | $37,557 | 0.7x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $34,643 | 0.6x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(1yr data) | $33,821 | 0.6x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesLowest | $31,966 | 0.6x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
Seattle University delivers returns in line with the national college average. Graduates earn $75,272 10 years after starting, $30,272 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 5.4 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.