Seattle Pacific University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Seattle Pacific University charges a net price of $24,488/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,952. Graduates earn a median $64,506 ten years after entry, $16,146/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.1 years — a 20-year net return of $224,968, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Seattle Pacific University's 6.1-year payback ranks #532 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 59% of them, and #15 of 64 in Washington.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,488/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $97,952 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $64,506 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $16,146/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $224,968 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Seattle Pacific University's own numbers. Net price $24,488 × 4 years = $97,952 total. Median earnings $64,506 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $16,146 a year of premium. $97,952 ÷ $16,146 = 6.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $224,968. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Seattle Pacific University students graduate with?
A median $24,000 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $64,506 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Seattle Pacific University students graduate?
62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $97,952 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $157,987 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Seattle Pacific University expensive compared with other Washington colleges?
Its $24,488 net price runs $12,462 above the $12,027 median across the 64 Washington colleges we profile, or $49,846 more across the full degree.