Seattle University

What Seattle University does

Seattle University is a private Jesuit Catholic university founded in 1891 and headquartered in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood. It operates as a comprehensive higher-education institution delivering 65 undergraduate majors and more than 50 in-person and online graduate programs across business, nursing, law, education, sciences, and arts (including the newly integrated Cornish College of the Arts). The university maintains an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and reports a 96% graduate placement rate into employment or graduate school within six months.

The institution operates on a quarterly academic calendar that is transitioning to semesters in 2026. Its technology stack is primarily commodity — Canvas LMS for course delivery, Microsoft infrastructure, Google Analytics for web traffic, and third-party tools (Eventbrite, PayByPhone, iParq, Orca Flex, ChargePoint, LanguageLine) for event, parking, and student-health workflows. Distinctive technology assets are limited to operational portals — the Student Medicat health-portal and EMS event-management system — and the first CACREP-accredited online Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs in the Pacific Northwest, which serve more than 300 remote students with 22 full-time remote faculty.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed but is generated primarily through tuition and fees billed quarterly, supplemented by auxiliary services (housing, dining via The Emerald Plate, parking, recreation, and event-space rentals), sponsored research grants, and endowment/donor contributions that fund institutional financial aid. Go-to-market is sales-led through dedicated undergraduate, graduate, international, transfer, and executive/professional admissions channels, reinforced by event-driven campus visits, an NCAA Division I athletics brand (Redhawks), and direct employer partnerships with Amazon and Microsoft that anchor career outcomes. The institution is undergoing a leadership transition with Maura Mast — the first woman and first mathematician to hold the presidency — assuming the role on September 1, 2026.

Name

Seattle University

Legal name

Seattle University

Website

https://seattleu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Seattle University is a private Jesuit Catholic university founded in 1891 in Seattle, WA, offering 65 undergraduate majors and 50+ graduate programs with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 96% placement rate. It serves undergraduate, graduate, international, and veteran students through on-campus and online modalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Professional certificates
• Online learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Seattle University generates primary revenue through tuition and fees from undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. The institution operates on a quarterly academic calendar with varying tuition rates by program level and residency status.
2. Institutional Aid and Endowments: The university utilizes endowment funds and donor contributions to provide institutional financial aid, including emergency funding to cover gaps created by state budget reductions such as Washington College Grant changes.
3. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from housing and dining services, campus recreation facilities, event space rentals, and summer conference programs. The university partners with external vendors including The Emerald Plate for dining services.
4. Sponsored Research and Grants: Funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporate partners for research initiatives, including the Office of Sponsored Projects and various faculty research programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic higher education institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 65 undergraduate majors and more than 50 in-person and online graduate programs. The university also operates auxiliary student services including the Student Health Center, University Recreation (UREC), housing and dining, campus event spaces, and student media such as KXSU radio. It is currently integrating Cornish College of the Arts and is transitioning its academic calendar from quarters to semesters.

Product overview

Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and student services. The university provides undergraduate programs (65 majors), graduate programs (50+ options), and professional development certificates. The institution operates on a quarter system transitioning to semesters and has recently integrated Cornish College of the Arts. Student support services include the Student Health Center, University Recreation (UREC), counseling services, and campus event spaces. The institution also maintains student media outlets including KXSU radio and The Spectator newspaper.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Redhawks: The athletic teams and mascot of Seattle University

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of graduates employed or in grad school within 6 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AccessLex InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Seattle University School of Law announced a five-year partnership with AccessLex Institute to address the legal desert crisis in Central Washington. The initiative creates a pipeline of local residents becoming licensed attorneys to serve their communities using a hybrid model at Heritage University.
• AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Amazon for student internships and career pathways. During Eduardo Peñalver's tenure, Seattle University partnered with local tech companies including Amazon to increase STEM enrollment and provide experiential learning opportunities.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Microsoft for student internships and career pathways. Seattle University leverages deep ties with Microsoft and other Seattle tech companies for student preparation and career development.
• Behnke FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Behnke Foundation's Neddy Artist Awards program, established in 1996 to support artists in Washington, has expanded funding and opportunities for 2026. Seattle University maintains connection to regional arts ecosystem through faculty and student participation.
• Cornish College of the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle University is integrating Cornish College of the Arts. This major institutional transition combines two Seattle-based institutions, expanding arts programming and creating new collaborative opportunities.
• Fordham UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFordham University served as the prior institution for President-elect Maura Mast before her appointment to Seattle University. Her decade-long tenure as Dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill informed her approach to student success initiatives.
• Georgetown UniversityminorOthersEduardo Peñalver departed Seattle University presidency in March 2026 to become president of Georgetown University, creating an institutional leadership transition and ongoing higher education leadership network connection.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gonzaga University: Jesuit Catholic university in Spokane, WA. Closest direct peer given shared Jesuit mission, comparable enrollment scale, regional PNW footprint, and similar mid-sized private faith-based positioning.
• University of Portland: Jesuit Catholic university in Portland, OR. Directly comparable in faith affiliation, regional PNW presence, undergraduate teaching focus, and similar program breadth across arts, sciences, and professional schools.
• Santa Clara University: Jesuit university in Silicon Valley with similar tech-employer adjacency (tech pipeline to Bay Area firms), comparable size, and shared emphasis on Jesuit whole-person education with strong STEM and business offerings.
• Loyola Marymount University: Jesuit-Marymount university in Los Angeles with similar urban campus, NCAA Division I athletics, comparable undergraduate program breadth, and Jesuit mission-led student experience.
• Fordham University: Jesuit university in New York City, and former institution of incoming Seattle U president Maura Mast. Comparable Jesuit mission, urban campus, professional school depth (law, business), and broad graduate program offerings.
• Marquette University: Jesuit university in Milwaukee, WI. Comparable mid-sized private Jesuit institution with similar professional schools (law, nursing, business), NCAA Division I athletics, and faith-based student experience.
• Creighton University: Jesuit university in Omaha, NE. Comparable private Jesuit institution with similar professional health science and law programs, mission-driven identity, and similar enrollment scale.

Broad incumbents

• Boston College: Larger Jesuit research university on the East Coast. Operates in the same broader Jesuit higher-education category with overlapping programs, NCAA Division I athletics, and faith-based positioning, though at meaningfully greater scale and national visibility.
• Georgetown University: Premier Jesuit university and destination for former Seattle U president Eduardo Peñalver. Operates in the same Jesuit higher-education space with overlapping professional schools (law, foreign service) but at substantially larger scale and global brand recognition.

Regional players

• University of Washington Tacoma: Public university branch in Washington State offering undergraduate and graduate programs. Competitor for the same Pacific Northwest student pool but with significantly lower public tuition and larger research footprint; relevant for understanding Seattle U's positioning against the dominant state system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/seattleu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/seattleuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/seattleu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/seattle-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/seattleu
• TikToktiktok.com/@seattleu

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seattle University