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AccessibleUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Seattle University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

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.

Your odds at Seattle University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

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
SAT middle 50%
1200-1430
of admitted students
Type
Private
Seattle, WA
Average net price
$34,662
per year after aid

Seattle University application deadlines, 2026-27

What do students study at Seattle University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Health Professions and Related Programs · 268 (25.1%)Business, Management and Marketing · 188 (17.6%)Computer and Information Sciences · 91 (8.5%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 89 (8.3%)Psychology · 70 (6.6%)Visual and Performing Arts · 57 (5.3%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 50 (4.7%)Engineering · 44 (4.1%)Social Sciences · 37 (3.5%)Communication and Journalism · 33 (3.1%)Public Administration and Social Service · 26 (2.4%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 22 (2.1%)

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.

Calculate your chances at Seattle University →

Your chances at Seattle University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Seattle University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Seattle University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1320 SAT?

About 96% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1320 SAT, the middle of Seattle University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1430 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Seattle University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 120025th pctSAT 1320middleSAT 143075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.542%Target66%Likely81%Safety43%Target
2.872%Safety87%Safety94%Safety79%Safety
3.190%Safety96%Safety98%Safety94%Safety
3.497%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/seattle-university.

How to get into Seattle University

Built from Seattle University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Here is how to get into Seattle University, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Seattle University carries about a 3.15 core GPA and a 1380 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1200 to 1430 SAT (23 to 30 ACT). Submit a score at 1315 or higher; below 1200, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Seattle University weighs

Seattle University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: essays that sound like you and answer the actual prompt, and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Seattle University's exact dates at www.seattleu.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Seattle University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.seattleu.edu ↗

How many students apply to Seattle University, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Seattle University received 8,976 applications and admitted 6,826, an acceptance rate of 76%. 1,049 enrolled. Only about 15% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Seattle University enrolls about 4,062 undergraduates in total, 60% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1.

Applied
8,976
fall 2023
Admitted
6,826
76% of applicants
Enrolled
1,049
15% yield
Undergraduates
4,062
Seattle, large city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Seattle University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Seattle University scored between 1200 and 1430 on the SAT (average 1307). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 23 to 30. A score above 1430 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1200 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Seattle University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1200-1430
average 1307
ACT middle 50%
23-30
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

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 1330 SAT →Colleges for a 29 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Seattle University cost after financial aid?

Seattle University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $72,124 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $56,721. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $34,662 a year, and it ranges from $22,896 for families earning under $30,000 to $42,737 for families earning over $110,000. 24% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$72,124
per year, before aid
Average net price
$34,662
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
24%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$22,896
$30k to $48k$24,523
$48k to $75k$26,977
$75k to $110k$36,967
Over $110k$42,737

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Seattle University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Seattle University student who received federal aid earns $75,272 a year, up from $64,656 at six years. 76% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 84% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $19,883; 49% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$75,272
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
76%
within six years
Retention
84%
return for year two
Median debt
$19,883
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

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 is Seattle University's acceptance rate?

Seattle University admitted 6,826 of 8,976 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 76% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 15% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Seattle University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1200 to 1430 on the SAT and 23 to 30 on the ACT. A score above 1430 is in the top quarter of admits. Seattle University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Seattle University test-optional?

Yes. Seattle University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Seattle University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Seattle University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $34,662 a year against a sticker price of about $72,124. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $22,896 on average.

What do Seattle University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Seattle University are $75,272 a year among students who received federal aid, and 76% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

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.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.