Seattle Pacific University vs Whitman College: which has better ROI?
Seattle Pacific University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,952 in 6.1 years versus 6.9 years at Whitman College, on median earnings of $64,506 vs $67,589 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Seattle Pacific University | Whitman College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,488 | $33,313 |
| Total net cost | $97,952 | $133,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,506 | $67,589 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $18,437 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $224,968 | $251,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Seattle Pacific University or Whitman College?
Seattle Pacific University, at $24,488 a year after aid versus $33,313 — a gap of $8,825 a year, or $35,300 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Seattle Pacific University or Whitman College graduates earn more?
Whitman College graduates report a median $67,589 ten years after entry, $3,083 more than the $64,506 at Seattle Pacific University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Seattle Pacific University or Whitman College?
Whitman College: its completers carry a median $18,437 in federal loans versus $24,000 at Seattle Pacific University, a difference of $5,563. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Whitman College, against 62% at Seattle Pacific University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.