AccessibleUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Seattle University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 77%, Seattle University is an accessible private college in Washington. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Seattle University weighs, where it ranks among Washington schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1330, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
77%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1330
of admitted students
Type
Private
Washington
Selectivity in state
#4
of 15 in WA
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Will I get into Seattle University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Seattle University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Seattle University?

Seattle University admits most qualified applicants (around 77%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Seattle University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Seattle University hard to get into?

Seattle University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 77% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Seattle University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Seattle University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Seattle University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Seattle University?

Seattle University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1330. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Seattle University.

Calculate your chances at Seattle University

What Seattle University looks for

What Seattle University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Seattle University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Seattle University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Seattle University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Seattle University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1350 SAT →Colleges for a 29 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Seattle University compares in Washington

Seattle University ranks #4 most selective of 15 schools in Washington in our database.

Among the 15 Washington schools we track, Seattle University ranks #4 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Whitman College (38%) and University of Washington (39%) sit nearby, which makes Washington a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Whitman College
38%acceptance · WA
University of Washington
39%acceptance · WA
Walla Walla University
65%acceptance · WA
Pacific Lutheran University
78%acceptance · WA
Gonzaga University
82%acceptance · WA
Seattle Pacific University
83%acceptance · WA
Northwest University
83%acceptance · WA
Washington State University
87%acceptance · WA
See all Washington schools →

Similar to Seattle University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Seattle University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Bradley University, Gardner-Webb University, and Barry University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Bradley University
77%acceptance · IL
Gardner-Webb University
77%acceptance · NC
Barry University
77%acceptance · FL
Clarkson University
77%acceptance · NY
DeSales University
77%acceptance · PA
Lees-McRae College
77%acceptance · NC

Frequently asked questions

What does Seattle University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Seattle University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Seattle University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Seattle University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Seattle University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Seattle University specifically.

Is Seattle University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Seattle University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1330; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.