Seattle University

PERSONAL EDUCATION
Located in the heart of one of the most advanced cities in the nation, Seattle University attracts faculty at the top of their fields. Students at Seattle U experience a deep intellectual life, working on research projects alongside these accomplished faculty members. With an average class size of 18 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, Seattle U offers an interactive classroom experience where every student’s voice is heard. It’s transformative learning. Faculty members often say they come to a university of this size because undergraduates are their primary focus. Partnering with students in groundbreaking research and mentoring them as they grow from novices into experts is as important as their own scholarship.

CORE CURRICULUM
At the center of Seattle University’s Jesuit academic experience is the Core Curriculum. With an emphasis on rigorous, engaging courses, the Core develops students into critical thinkers and global-minded citizens able to tackle any challenge they encounter. Through their Core classes, students develop confidence and communication skills as they grow into the leaders of tomorrow, empowered to be agents of change in their careers and their communities. Classes are typically comprised of no more than 20 students, and faculty are engaged and accessible. Some Core classes students take include: What does “America” Mean Now?; Rhetoric of Sustainable Food; God, Money, and Politics; The Genetics of Disease; Literary Bad Boys; and more. Learn more about the Core Curriculum at seattleu.edu/core.

AREAS OF STUDY
With more than 60 undergraduate degree offerings, incoming students are sure to find their niche. New programs develop each year, such as the Bachelor of Business Administration in Business and Law, which allows students to begin Seattle University School of Law courses as an undergraduate, effectively saving themselves a year of undergraduate tuition. A Bachelor of Science in Marine and Conservation Biology allows students to study marine environments while researching successful conservation efforts. And those who haven’t quite decided on a major can start in the Premajor Studies program, where a Premajor Advisor will tailor an academic plan that helps students discern their academic calling.

For a complete list of majors and programs, visit seattleu.edu/undergraduate-admissions/academics/programs.

SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Cross-registration
Distance learning
Double major
Honors Program
Independent study
Internships
Liberal arts/career combination
Student-designed major
Study abroad
Teacher certification program

GET INVOLVED!
At Seattle University, an emphasis on educating the whole person means fostering student growth both inside and outside the classroom. From the day students arrive on campus to their parting days as graduates, they immerse themselves in everything the university offers. Just some of the slew of enriching extra-curricular opportunities for students include:

• REDZONE: This student-led organization leads the rallying at Division I athletic events and other gatherings where stirring up Redhawk pride is paramount. Since 2012, REDZONE has cheered the Redhawks on to 33 team and individual Western Athletic Conference titles, including seven combined postseason appearances. Expect to see them yelling the loudest and proudest for the home team.
• SEAC: Entirely student-run, Student Events and Activities Council (SEAC) is the main programming board for Seattle U. The organization plans more than 65 events a year for the campus community, ranging from films and concerts to speakers and outdoor activities. One of the largest events they help organize is the annual Quadstock, a day-long outdoor music and arts festival that takes place in Seattle U’s Quad near the end of the academic year.
• Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA): OMA showcases a campus community that appreciates, encourages, and celebrates diversity in many forms. OMA serves one of the most diverse student bodies among independent universities on the West Coast and offers student-interest groups as well as meaningful annual events.
• Dance Marathon: Dance Marathon is an annual fundraising event where hundreds of students stay on their feet for a nearly round-the-clock dance-a-thon to raise money for Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Uncompensated Care program.
• De-Stress with Dogs: Each quarter during finals week, students gather at the Student Center to hang out with dogs and get their minds off the books. The university wants to keep students healthy and happy, which sometimes means playing Frisbee with energetic canine companions on campus.

SCHOOL LOCATION
Cultures, corporate headquarters, and cutting-edge technology co-mingle in the Emerald City. Seattle’s central location affords rich learning experiences outside the classroom. Many important lessons in life are learned in Seattle’s dozens of coffeehouses—or while scoping out the Cascade or Olympic Mountains from a ferry, the city skyline from atop the Space Needle, or the Puget Sound waterfront from a giant Ferris wheel. 

When a break from the books is in order, check out a Seattle Mariners or Seahawks game or cheer on the major-league soccer team, the Sounders FC. And the city that spawned grunge, garage bands, and Macklemore flourishes with eclectic offerings at numerous live music venues. Seattle University is only a short walk or a quick bus ride from downtown. The campus is eco-friendly, pesticide free, and continually awarded for its commitment to environmental leadership, energy conservation, recycling, and composting.

ATHLETICS
Seattle University sponsors 18 intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division I level: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s indoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, men’s swimming, women’s swimming, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, and volleyball. 

All sports—except for women’s rowing, which competes as a Division I independent—are members of the Western Athletic Conference. Go Redhawks!

RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 92%
Undergraduates: 50%

Campus housing options.
Coed dorms
Apartments for single students
Theme housing
Wellness housing

PREPARATION FOR SUCCESS
Whether graduates of Seattle University stay close to their collegiate home—and 40,000 alumni do—or venture off and explore different corners of the world, they walk away with much more than a degree. Seattle U seeks to educate students in mind, body, and spirit while cultivating citizens of the world. Empowering leaders through professional formation is at the heart of what this university does. Undergraduate studies are designed to send graduates into the world with specific strengths that include the following:

• Prepared to encounter the world – Graduates thoughtfully engage complex questions about human existence and the natural world by rigorously applying appropriate methods of inquiry and by drawing upon a broad foundation of relevant knowledge and experience.
• Adept in their discipline – Through pursuing their academic and scholarly passions, Seattle U graduates possess in-depth knowledge and skills in their major and are able to apply them effectively.
• Empowered to make a difference – Graduates are competent and creative writers, speakers, and critical thinkers who are able to thrive in leadership, team, and advocacy roles; who contribute to the common good; and who possess the tools to meet life’s challenges.
• Self-reflective in their pursuit of meaning and purpose – Graduates are prepared and inspired to lead reflective lives of meaning and value and discern their vocational and life paths.
• Committed to justice and ethical action – They engage as ethical members of their global and local communities, act with compassion and integrity, and strive for social and environmental justice.

Admissions

ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Rigor of secondary school record | Academic GPA
Standardized test scores | Character/personal qualities

Important
Application Essay | Recommendation(s)
Extracurricular activities | Level of applicant’s interest

Considered
Class rank | Interview | Talent/ability
First generation | Alumni/ae relation | Geographical residence
State residency | Religious affiliation/commitment
Racial/ethnic status | Volunteer work | Work experience

FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 570 | 75th Percentile: 660
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 560 | 75th Percentile: 660
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 23 | 75th Percentile: 28
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 23 | 75th Percentile: 28
ACT English
25th Percentile: 24 | 75th Percentile: 32

Tuition & Cost

Tuition: $45,765
Fees: $825
Room: $8,481
Board: $4,050

Aid

THE SULLIVAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
All students who complete an application to Seattle University will be considered for merit-based scholarships, which range from $14,000 – $25,000 per year. Families are also recommended to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered for additional need-based aid.  Students who have shown a commitment to their communities through service and leadership should consider applying for the Sullivan Leadership Award, a scholarship equivalent to four years of tuition, room, and board. The Sullivan Leadership Award is given to nine incoming freshmen each year. While competitive, the award process allows applicants the opportunity to glimpse the dynamic leadership opportunities offered to all SU students. Interested students may learn more at seattleu.edu/sullivan.