Colleges in Seattle, Washington
17 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 17 colleges and universities in Seattle, Washington (8 Private nonprofit, 5 Public, 4 Private for-profit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 17 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $27,752 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 64.3%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 62% of applicants.
The median net price in Seattle runs about $13,603 higher than the Washington statewide median of $14,149.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Seattle, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$27,752
After aid
Median grad rate
64.3%
6-year
Median admission rate
62%
Median enrollment
813
Undergrad
All colleges in Seattle
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $14,091 | 85.2% | 39% | 31,942 | Complete | |
| Seattle University Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $34,662 | 75.5% | 77% | 4,062 | Complete | |
| Seattle Central College Seattle, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $8,819 | 31.6% | Not available | 3,953 | Partial | |
| North Seattle College Seattle, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $10,740 | 32.8% | Not available | 3,074 | Partial | |
| Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $24,488 | 62.0% | 83% | 1,762 | Complete | |
| South Seattle College Seattle, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $6,004 | 31.4% | Not available | 1,616 | Partial | |
| City University of Seattle Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 1,137 | Partial | |
| Cornish College of the Arts Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $40,062 | 56.4% | 62% | 488 | Complete | |
| Pima Medical Institute-Seattle Seattle, WA | WA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $31,016 | 67.5% | Not available | 471 | Partial | |
| Divers Institute of Technology Seattle, WA | WA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $39,337 | 90.8% | Not available | 198 | Partial | |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Seattle Seattle, WA | WA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $23,787 | 66.7% | Not available | 154 | Partial | |
| Antioch University-Seattle Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 74 | Partial | |
| Seattle Film Institute Seattle, WA | WA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $41,595 | 57.1% | Not available | 65 | Partial | |
| Academy of Interactive Entertainment Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 2-year | $34,626 | 83.7% | 42% | 47 | Partial | |
| Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology Seattle, WA | WA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Shoreline Community College - Dental Hygiene Seattle, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private nonprofit (8)
Private nonprofit colleges in Seattle are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Seattle UniversityNet price: $34,662Grad: 75.5%
- Seattle Pacific UniversityNet price: $24,488Grad: 62.0%
- City University of SeattleNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Cornish College of the ArtsNet price: $40,062Grad: 56.4%
- Antioch University-SeattleNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Academy of Interactive EntertainmentNet price: $34,626Grad: 83.7%
- Seattle Institute of East Asian MedicineNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- The Seattle School of Theology & PsychologyNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (5)
Public colleges in Seattle are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- University of Washington-Seattle CampusNet price: $14,091Grad: 85.2%
- Seattle Central CollegeNet price: $8,819Grad: 31.6%
- North Seattle CollegeNet price: $10,740Grad: 32.8%
- South Seattle CollegeNet price: $6,004Grad: 31.4%
- Shoreline Community College - Dental HygieneNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private for-profit (4)
Private for-profit colleges in Seattle operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Pima Medical Institute-SeattleNet price: $31,016Grad: 67.5%
- Divers Institute of TechnologyNet price: $39,337Grad: 90.8%
- Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute SeattleNet price: $23,787Grad: 66.7%
- Seattle Film InstituteNet price: $41,595Grad: 57.1%
Top programs in Seattle
Most-completed programs across Seattle colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Health professions11.5% of degrees
- Computer science10.7% of degrees
- Business9.6% of degrees
- Biological sciences8.4% of degrees
- Social sciences7.3% of degrees
- Engineering7.2% of degrees
- Education5.2% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts4.9% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Seattle
Q.How many colleges are in Seattle, Washington?
There are 17 colleges and universities in Seattle, Washington that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 8 Private nonprofit, 5 Public, 4 Private for-profit.
Q.What is the largest college in Seattle?
By undergraduate enrollment, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the largest institution in Seattle with roughly 31,942 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Seattle?
Based on average net price after aid, South Seattle College is the most affordable institution in Seattle at $6,004 per year.
Q.Which Seattle college has the highest graduation rate?
Divers Institute of Technology reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Seattle institutions at 90.8%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Seattle?
The median net price across all 17 colleges in Seattle is $27,752 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Seattle?
Across Seattle colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Health professions, Computer science, Business.
Q.Are there community colleges in Seattle?
Yes — Seattle includes 5 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Washington
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Seattle that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.