📆 Heads up for the Class of 2031: Seattle U is switching to semesters
Students starting in fall 2027 will do all four years on a semester calendar instead of quarters. Seattle U says the switch by itself won’t raise the total cost of a degree, but your bills and aid will come in two terms a year instead of three. Some older Seattle U pages still describe things “per quarter,” so expect the numbers to be restated over the next year.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Seattle University (Read This First)
Merit is guaranteed, but you can’t calculate it ahead of time. Every admitted student gets at least $8,000 a year, but Seattle U doesn’t publish a GPA or test grid. The Net Price Calculator is your best preview.
Test-optional really means test-optional for money too. Seattle U says in writing that skipping scores doesn’t change scholarship consideration. If you do send scores, they must arrive by November 1 for Early Action or January 15 for Regular Decision.
Early Action is November 1, not mid-November. It also starts the clock on the first Honors deadline (November 10).
The biggest money runs through specific pipelines. The full ride (Sullivan) and the 48% tuition guarantee are only for Catholic and Jesuit high school students. Seattle U Bound is only for Washington College Bound students. A public-school student from out of state is mostly looking at merit, Honors, and outside scholarships.
February 1 is the FAFSA date that matters. Seattle U Bound, the McGoldrick legacy award, and need-based aid all key off it.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Seattle University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 24-30; SAT: 1160-1360.
Average net price? About $36,948/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Seattle University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Seattle University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,600 to $3,900 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$78,384
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$60,756
Housing & meals (typical)
$17,628
Total billed cost
$78,384
Average federal net price: $36,948 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Same Price for Everyone, but Washington Families Bring Extra Money
Seattle U is private, so there is no in-state or out-of-state price. Everyone sees the same sticker. What changes is the aid you bring with you.
Washington residents can use the Washington College Grant and the College Bound Scholarship at Seattle U, and College Bound students who finish with a 3.5 GPA may qualify for Seattle U Bound, which covers full demonstrated need.
Families from other states are working mainly with Seattle U merit, need-based aid, and outside scholarships.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Seattle University
Why does Seattle U’s official budget say $82,726 when the table above shows about $78,400?
The table covers what Seattle U actually bills: tuition, mandatory fees, and average on-campus housing and food. The official budget adds the costs you pay elsewhere: about $1,968 personal, $1,716 transportation, $594 books and supplies, and a small loan fee. Plan with the bigger number, then negotiate down with aid.
Is there a cheaper rate if my student lives at home?
Yes. Seattle U’s budget for a student living with family is $71,146, because housing and food drop to about $3,000 each. Tuition and fees stay the same.
What do families actually pay after aid?
The most recent federal average net price is about $36,948 a year, after grants and scholarships but before loans. Seattle U reports that 100% of full-time first-year students received grant or scholarship aid in 2024–25, so very few families pay the sticker price.
Will the switch to semesters raise our bill?
Seattle U says the semester change on its own won’t increase the total cost of a degree. You’ll just see two bills a year instead of three, and Student Financial Services will publish semester-based numbers for 2027–28.
Do we need the CSS Profile?
No. Seattle U uses the FAFSA, or the WASFA for eligible Washington students. File by February 1 to be considered for need-based aid and several named scholarships.
Can my student work on campus to cover living costs?
Seattle U lists more than 1,400 paid on-campus jobs, and the campus minimum wage in 2026 is $21.30 an hour. That’s real money toward books and food, though it won’t touch tuition by itself.
November 1: Early Action application (and official test scores, if you’re sending them). Merit is decided from this application.
November 10: First Honors priority deadline, if your student gets invited.
December 1: FAFSA/WASFA for Catholic High School Assured Admission families applying early who want need-based aid on top.
January 15: Regular Decision. Also the last call for Sullivan, Seattle U Bound, FACHEX/Tuition Exchange, and McGoldrick eligibility.
January 25: Second Honors priority deadline.
February 1: FAFSA for Seattle U Bound, McGoldrick, and need-based aid.
March 1: Sullivan Scholarship application due (invited students only).
Parent rule of thumb: if your student is serious about Seattle U, apply Early Action by November 1. It locks in merit review, Honors consideration, and an answer by mid-December.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Seattle University
Every admitted first-year, transfer, undocumented, and international student is automatically considered for merit, and the floor is at least $8,000 a year. There’s no separate application and no published GPA or test grid. Seattle U says applying test-optional does not change scholarship consideration.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Seattle University Merit Award
📅 Deadline: November 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with federal and state grants, the $1,800 Honors scholarship, and outside scholarships. Some Seattle U awards cap how far institutional aid can go (FACHEX and McGoldrick recipients cannot use Seattle U aid beyond tuition), so read the offer letter for any replacement language.
💡
Strategic Detail
Every first-year, transfer, undocumented and international student who completes an admission application is automatically considered. Seattle U guarantees at least $8,000 per year but does not publish a tier grid, so the exact amount appears in the offer. First-year awards renew for up to four years. Transfers with fewer than 45 credits can hold the award up to four years; transfers with 45 or more credits, up to three years. Seattle U states that applying test-optional does not change scholarship consideration.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Essentially every admitted student. The $8,000 floor is guaranteed in writing. How far above it a student lands depends on the full application, and Seattle U does not publish GPA or test cutoffs for higher amounts, so the Net Price Calculator is the best preview.
Automaticpartner high school
Catholic High School Assured Admission Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Only for graduates of 10 partner Catholic high schools in Washington.
Partner schools: Archbishop Murphy (Everett), Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma), Bishop Blanchet (Seattle), Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle (starting 2028), Eastside Catholic (Sammamish), Gonzaga Prep (Spokane), Holy Names Academy (Seattle), Kennedy Catholic (Burien), O'Dea (Seattle), Seattle Prep (Seattle). Students must meet a minimum GPA set with each school and complete a strong college-prep curriculum, ideally with at least two AP, IB or Matteo Ricci courses.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Seattle U does not say whether this replaces or adds to the standard Merit Award. Treat it as the merit offer and confirm in the award letter.
💡
Strategic Detail
Launched in 2026. Qualified students from partner Catholic high schools are guaranteed admission plus a scholarship covering at least 48 percent of annual tuition, about $28,500 at 2026-27 rates. Guaranteed for four years with satisfactory academic progress.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Seniors at the 10 partner schools who hit their school's GPA threshold and apply to an eligible major. Ask the high school college counselor or the Seattle U admissions counselor for the exact GPA bar.
Automaticstate program
Seattle U Bound
📅 Deadline: February 1 (FAFSA) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Washington College Bound Scholarship students only.
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Built from layers: Pell, Washington College Grant, College Bound, Seattle U grants, work-study and modest loans. Outside scholarships fit into the package; ask Student Financial Services whether they reduce loans first.
💡
Strategic Detail
Seattle U commits to covering the gap between the family's Student Aid Index and the full cost of attendance for four years. The package mixes grants and scholarships, work-study, and low-interest loans from federal, state and Seattle U sources, combined with the state College Bound Scholarship. It meets need; it is not a free ride. Renewal requires staying College Bound eligible, satisfactory academic progress, and filing the FAFSA every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Washington seniors who signed up for College Bound in middle school, finish with at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA, apply by January 15, and file the FAFSA by February 1. If your student signed that College Bound pledge years ago, this is worth knowing about now.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Because Seattle U doesn’t publish merit tiers, the best way to estimate your student’s award before applying is the Net Price Calculator. Keep in mind it still runs on 2024–25 assumptions, so treat the result as a ballpark.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Seattle University)
How much automatic merit will my student get?
At least $8,000 a year, guaranteed for every admitted student. Above that, Seattle U doesn’t say how amounts are set, so you won’t know the exact figure until the offer arrives.
Will applying test-optional cost us scholarship money?
No. Seattle U states that test-optional applicants get the same scholarship consideration. If scores help tell the story, Seattle U uses the highest section scores across test dates.
Is the merit award renewable?
Yes. First-year awards renew for up to four years. Transfers with fewer than 45 credits can keep theirs up to four years; transfers with 45 or more, up to three.
What is the Catholic High School Assured Admission Scholarship?
It’s a guaranteed admission and tuition deal for graduates of 10 partner Catholic high schools in Washington. Students who meet their school’s GPA bar and apply to an eligible major get at least 48% of tuition each year for four years, about $28,500 at current rates. Nursing, Diagnostic Ultrasound, and Cornish BFA/BM degrees are excluded.
Does Seattle U Bound mean college is free?
Not exactly. Seattle U Bound covers a College Bound student’s full demonstrated need, meaning the gap between the FAFSA’s Student Aid Index and the full cost of attendance. That package includes grants, work-study, and some low-interest loans. It’s a strong guarantee, but expect a loan line on the offer.
Can international and undocumented students get merit?
Yes. Seattle U explicitly includes international and undocumented applicants in automatic merit consideration.
Seattle U has one flagship competitive award: the Sullivan Scholarship. It’s a true full ride (tuition, housing, food and fees for four years), but only two students a year receive it, and only students at Jesuit or Catholic high schools can be invited. For most families, the real money at Seattle U comes from guaranteed merit, need-based aid, and the Honors scholarship.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Seattle U?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Seattle U Parent Translation
Merit Award ($8,000+)
N/A
Everyone admitted gets one. It’s the base layer of almost every offer.
Catholic HS Assured (48%+ of tuition)
Confirm in offer
Seattle U doesn’t say whether it replaces or adds to the Merit Award. Assume it’s your merit offer and check the letter.
Sullivan Scholarship
Covers it all
Tuition, housing, food and fees are already paid, so there’s little left for other Seattle U aid to do.
Honors Scholarship ($1,800/yr)
Yes
Adds on top of merit for all four years if your student is admitted to University Honors.
FACHEX / Tuition Exchange
Capped at tuition
Seattle U aid can’t go past tuition, but outside scholarships can stack up to the full cost of attendance.
Need-based grants (Pell, WA College Grant)
Usually
These fill the gap after merit. File the FAFSA by February 1 so they’re in the first offer.
If your student isn’t at a Catholic or Jesuit high school, don’t spend energy hunting for a hidden competitive full ride here. The smarter play at Seattle U is to apply Early Action, say yes to the Honors invitation if it comes, file the FAFSA early, and stack outside scholarships on top.
Full RideApp Required
Sullivan Scholarship
📅 Deadline: January 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full cost of attendance
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPA👥 ~Two new Sullivan Scholars per year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers tuition, housing, food and fees, so there is little left for other Seattle U aid to cover.
📄
How to Apply
Step one — submit the Common Application to Seattle University by January 15. Step two — wait for the Admissions Office to invite you, in January, to submit the Sullivan supplemental application via your Redhawk Admissions Portal. The supplemental portal opens in late November for invited students. Step three — complete and submit the Sullivan supplemental application by March 1. There is no campus visit, on-campus competition, or required interview — that piece was retired in 2024.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year award covering full tuition, housing and food, and fees for two students each year who attend Jesuit or Catholic high schools in the U.S. or abroad. Selection is by invitation after Admissions reviews the Common App. The on-campus competition ended in 2024, so no campus visit is required. Sullivan Scholars are automatically admitted to the University Honors Program and the Matteo Ricci Institute (for most programs).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students at Jesuit or Catholic high schools with a cumulative unweighted GPA around 3.7 or higher, the most rigorous courses available, and a real record of leadership, service and global engagement. With only two awards, the invited application carries most of the decision.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Sullivan / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How many Sullivan Scholarships are awarded?
Two per year. That’s it, so treat it as a long shot even for strong students.
Who can apply for the Sullivan?
Only students attending a Jesuit or Catholic high school, in the U.S. or abroad. Seattle U invites students it sees as strong candidates, usually with a 3.7 or higher unweighted GPA, a tough course load, and real leadership and service.
What are the Sullivan deadlines?
Submit the Common App by January 15. The Sullivan application opens by late November, invitations go out in January through the admissions portal, and the invited application is due March 1.
Do Sullivan finalists have to visit campus?
No. Seattle U ended the on-campus competition in 2024, so the written application now carries most of the weight.
Does the Sullivan come with anything besides money?
Yes. Sullivan Scholars are automatically admitted to the University Honors Program and the Matteo Ricci Institute (for most programs), and the program grooms them for fellowships like Fulbright and Rhodes.
What should students prepare?
Essays and a clear record of service carry this award. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize both.
Most of Seattle U’s departmental scholarships aren’t for incoming freshmen. They’re for current students, and they open once a year in ScholarshipUniverse. For the business school and the College of Science and Engineering, that window is April 1 to April 30.
Freshman year: put an April reminder on the family calendar.
Keep the FAFSA current every year. Several awards won’t even show up without one.
In April, log into ScholarshipUniverse. It only shows awards your student qualifies for.
Sophomore spring: Naef (non-STEM) or Bannan (STEM) is the next big target.
Parent translation: the merit offer is the floor. These smaller awards are how years two through four get cheaper.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
Some of these are wide open, like Sperry Goodman for science and engineering freshmen. Others are pipelines for very specific students, like foster youth, Seattle Promise transfers, Garfield High School’s Change Makers, or children of college employees. If one fits your family, it can be worth more than any merit award.
Full RideApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlypipeline
Fostering Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: March 31 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full cost of attendance
✔ Stackable
⚠ Strictly for students who have experienced the foster care system.
🎓 All UndergradAges 17 to 25; currently in, or aged out of, state, tribal or federally recognized foster care; independent student on the FAFSA; currently living in Washington; admitted or awaiting admission for fall.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Program funding is coordinated with federal, state, and institutional aid to cover full tuition, fees, books, and year-round housing and meals up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to Seattle University, then submit the Fostering Scholars application as a Washington resident with foster care experience by the priority deadline.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes foster care background, financial need, and readiness to engage in the program’s academic and life-skills support.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Official program description states that scholars receive full funding of tuition, books, and other approved educational expenses, waiver of enrollment-related fees, and year-round on-campus housing and meal plan, along with intensive support services.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Washington students with current or former foster care experience who demonstrate admission readiness and engage with the program’s academic and personal support resources.
App Required
Sperry Goodman Scholarship
📅 Deadline: 2027 deadline listed as TBD. Check the College of Science and Engineering scholarships page. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 2 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with other aid, but total financial aid awards cannot exceed tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Endowed by the estate of Sperry Goodman, a 1969 Seattle U electrical engineering graduate who went on to Boeing. $5,000 per year for incoming freshmen in science and engineering majors, with preference for students with financial need. Renewable for a second year with a 3.0 cumulative GPA in an eligible major.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming freshmen headed into a science or engineering major, especially those with financial need. One of the few departmental awards at Seattle U open to brand-new students.
Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ Transfer Onlypipeline
Seattle Promise
📅 Deadline: Seattle U quarterly transfer application deadline; FAFSA by February 1 before enrolling. ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
full tuition transfer scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Seattle Promise transfer students from the Seattle Colleges only.
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Seattle Promise full-tuition award stacks with federal Pell, Washington College Grant, work-study, federal loans, and outside scholarships up to the full cost of attendance — so families can still build a need-met package for housing, meals, and fees on top of the tuition coverage.
💡
Strategic Detail
Seattle Promise students enrolled in the Washington State College Bound Scholarship program who complete a DTA or AS-T at one of the Seattle Colleges with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA are guaranteed admission to Seattle University and receive a full-tuition scholarship. Required prerequisite courses for the intended Seattle U major must be completed at the community college. Renewal requires satisfactory academic progress and yearly FAFSA filing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Seattle Promise students at Seattle Central, North Seattle or South Seattle who are also enrolled in College Bound and finish a DTA or AS-T with at least a 3.0 GPA plus the prerequisites for their intended major. For them, admission is guaranteed and tuition is covered.
Full TuitionApp Requiredpipeline
Change Makers
📅 Deadline: Change Makers cohort applications managed by Seattle University Youth Initiative; Seattle U admission application by January 15 (Regular Decision) for first-year consideration ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
full tuition pipeline scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Garfield High School Change Makers cohort only.
👥 ~Up to 10 scholars supported per grade in the high school cohort. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
The four-year tuition scholarship is paired with eligible federal and state grants, work-study, and outside scholarships up to the full cost of attendance, allowing families to address housing, meals, and fees alongside the tuition coverage.
📄
How to Apply
First — apply to the Seattle University Youth Initiative's High School Change Makers cohort at Garfield High School (up to ten scholars are selected per grade through a cohort application managed by the Center for Community Engagement). Participate in the program throughout high school, demonstrating academic preparedness and civic engagement. Then apply to Seattle University as an incoming first-year through the regular admission application; Change Makers who meet program criteria are awarded the four-year tuition scholarship at admission.
💡
Strategic Detail
Change Makers is a Seattle University Youth Initiative cohort program for Garfield High School students that emphasizes academic readiness, community engagement, and college and career preparation. Up to ten scholars are supported per grade. Change Makers who demonstrate academic preparedness and civic engagement in high school receive a four-year tuition-paid scholarship to Seattle University. The pipeline is small and not actionable for students outside Garfield.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Garfield High School students who join the Change Makers cohort (up to 10 per grade), work with Seattle U student mentors, and show academic preparedness and civic engagement through high school. The path starts by applying to the high school program, not to a scholarship.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyemployee benefit
FACHEX and Tuition Exchange
📅 Deadline: Tuition Exchange application by January 31 through the parent's employer; Seattle U application by January 15 (first-year) or February 1 (transfer); FAFSA required. Decisions in mid-March. · 📢 Results: Mid-March (roughly one week after Regular Decision admission notifications) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
full tuition exchange scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Children of employees at Tuition Exchange or Jesuit (FACHEX) partner schools.
👥 ~Approximately 8 to 10 awards per year. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Other Seattle U aid cannot stack above tuition and cannot be used for housing, meals or fees. Outside scholarships can stack up to the full cost of attendance, which is how most families close the housing gap.
📄
How to Apply
Step one — the employee parent or legal guardian contacts the Human Resources office at their home institution (a member of either Tuition Exchange or the AJCU FACHEX program) and submits the Tuition Exchange application listing Seattle University as a school of interest, by January 31 of the year the student plans to enroll. Step two — the student applies to Seattle University through the Common Application (first-year) by January 15 Regular Decision, or through the Seattle U transfer application (transfer) by February 1. Step three — file the FAFSA. Decisions are released in mid-March, typically a week after Regular Decision admission notifications.
💡
Strategic Detail
Full-tuition award for dependents of eligible faculty and staff at 700+ Tuition Exchange schools or at U.S. Jesuit colleges (FACHEX). Seattle U has made 8 to 10 awards per year recently, chosen through holistic admission review. Four years for first-years while the parent stays eligible; transfer length depends on credits. Covers tuition only.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of employees at partner schools who apply by the deadlines and show strong academics, mission fit and demonstrated interest. Alternates are sometimes offered awards later, so fill out the alternate interest form if offered.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Thomas J. Bannan Scholarship
📅 Deadline: 2027 deadlines listed as TBD. Check the College of Science and Engineering scholarships page. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 2 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bannan awards stack with other aid up to the cost of tuition; if a student’s aid would exceed tuition, the cash portion may be limited while the student still participates in the enrichment program.
📄
How to Apply
Apply as a current or incoming junior or senior in the College of Science and Engineering or as an eligible transfer; submit the Bannan Scholarship application by the posted February and May deadlines.
Selection criteria: Merit-based selection focusing on GPA, engagement in service and scholarly activities, and fit with the Bannan Scholars Enrichment program.
💡
Strategic Detail
Seattle U describes the Bannan Scholarship as a $6,000 per year junior and senior merit award for College of Science and Engineering students; recipients participate in the Bannan Scholars Enrichment program and may also compete for summer research stipends.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Junior and senior STEM majors in the College of Science and Engineering with GPAs of 3.5 or higher and active involvement in service, scholarly, and community activities.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Naef Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: May 1 (2026 cycle); application emailed to naef@seattleu.edu ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 2 yrs)
$3,000–$4,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.4+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Naef awards are added to a student’s need-based aid package and may adjust other institutional aid so that total aid does not exceed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
During the sophomore year, eligible students submit a competitive Naef application, including essays and recommendations, for funding beginning in the junior year.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes academic performance, financial need, and substantial engagement with social justice and service.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Official description notes that each Naef Scholar receives a need-based award of $3,000 or $4,500 and joins a cohort focused on leadership and social justice; other public sources reference eligibility for students with 90+ credits and GPA ≥ 3.4.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Rising juniors and seniors with at least a 3.4 Seattle U GPA, demonstrated financial need, and a strong record of engagement with social justice and community issues.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlydemographic preference
Michael W.T. Chon Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply through ScholarshipUniverse; check the College of Arts and Sciences scholarships page for the current window. A current FAFSA is required for the scholarship to appear. Non-Renewable
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Preference for students of Chinese ancestry.
🎓 All UndergradFull-time Arts and Sciences undergraduate; U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a FAFSA on file; demonstrated need, strong academic potential, and interest in community service. Preference for students of Chinese ancestry and for students who finished high school within two years of enrolling.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Offered on top of regular Seattle U financial aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
About $5,000 per year, split across the academic year, to multiple recipients. Exact amounts are confirmed by Student Financial Services.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Arts and Sciences students with real financial need and a service track record. If the scholarship does not show up in ScholarshipUniverse, the usual reason is a missing FAFSA.
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All UndergradChild or grandchild of a Seattle U alum, sibling of a current student or alum, or niece or nephew of SU-alumni clergy. Minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Seattle U aid combined with this award cannot exceed tuition. Sullivan, employee educational benefit, and Presidential Authorization recipients are not eligible.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established by the alumni board in 1979 and named for Fr. James McGoldrick, S.J. There is no separate essay: students list alumni relatives (name, attendance dates, graduation year, relationship, maiden name if applicable) on the admission application, and the award arrives with the financial aid offer. The application fee is waived. Seattle U does not publish the dollar amount. Renewal requires 45 credits per year, a 3.0 GPA, and satisfactory academic progress. The official page is inconsistent on whether international students qualify.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Legacy students with at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated need who list their alumni relatives on the application and file the FAFSA by February 1.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Also on Seattle U’s list (partner and outside programs)
Costco Scholarship: Seattle U awards Costco Scholarships to select students through the College Success Foundation.
Rainier Scholars: a partner scholarship with college success counseling for Rainier Scholars participants. They also get the application fee waived.
Passport to Careers: Washington’s state scholarship for students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness.
Army ROTC: full-tuition scholarships are available, and Seattle U adds room and board grants for all contracted cadets, plus a $420 monthly stipend and $1,200 a year for books.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Are there any departmental scholarships for brand-new freshmen?
Yes, but only a few. The standout is the Sperry Goodman Scholarship: $5,000 a year for incoming science and engineering majors, with preference for students with financial need, renewable for a second year with a 3.0 GPA.
We’re a Seattle U legacy family. Is there money for that?
Yes, the McGoldrick Alumni Scholarship. There’s no essay. Your student lists alumni relatives on the admission application, needs at least a 3.0 GPA, and must file the FAFSA by February 1. Seattle U doesn’t publish the dollar amount, and the application fee is waived.
What is the Naef Scholarship?
A need-based award of $3,000 or $4,500 for rising juniors and seniors with a 3.4 or higher Seattle U GPA and a commitment to social justice. It comes with a cohort program. The last cycle’s deadline was May 1.
What about STEM juniors and seniors?
The Bannan Scholarship pays $6,000 a year for science and engineering students with junior or senior standing and a 3.5 GPA. The 2027 deadline hasn’t been posted yet.
My student is in foster care in Washington. What’s available?
Fostering Scholars covers tuition, books, fees, and year-round housing and meals, plus coaching. Students must be 17 to 25, currently in or aged out of care, living in Washington, and file the FAFSA as independent. The priority deadline is March 31.
Seattle U’s University Honors Program isn’t a separate college. It’s a cohort of students who take a sequence of seminar-style classes together, and those classes replace the regular core curriculum. Your student can’t just check a box; Honors is by invitation after the Common App is processed.
Typical admit: strong academic record, usually a 3.5 GPA or better
How to apply: watch the admissions portal for the invitation, then submit a 600-word essay and one teacher recommendation (an optional two-minute video is allowed)
Priority deadlines: November 10 (Early Action applicants) and January 25 (Regular Decision applicants)
Scholarship: $1,800 a year for all four years
Honors Scholarships
App Required
Honors Program Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 10; January 25 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,800/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds on top of the Seattle U Merit Award and other aid, subject to the cost-of-attendance ceiling. Many Honors students also apply for Naef or Bannan scholarships in spring of sophomore year.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Common Application to Seattle University to an Honors-compatible major. Once Admissions processes the application, the Honors application appears in your Redhawk Admissions Portal checklist for eligible students. Complete the 600-word Honors essay and submit one teacher letter of recommendation by the Honors priority deadline that matches your admission round. Admission to the University Honors Program automatically delivers the $1,800 Honors scholarship — no separate scholarship application is required.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Every student admitted to the University Honors Program receives $1,800 per year for four years. The Honors application is by invitation: after the Common App is processed, students who applied to an Honors-compatible major see the invitation in their admissions portal. It includes a 600-word essay and one teacher recommendation, plus an optional two-minute video. The program bars AI use in the application. Honors admission is for incoming first-years only.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Invited students with a strong academic record (typically a 3.5 GPA or better), a thoughtful essay, and a recommendation that speaks to intellectual curiosity. Engineering majors and Matteo Ricci students cannot join; credit-heavy majors such as nursing and BS science programs are limited to the Innovations track.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Madsen Family Honors Program Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Selections made each spring by Honors faculty; awards applied to the following academic year Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds on top of the $1,800 Honors scholarship and other aid, subject to the cost-of-attendance ceiling.
💡
Strategic Detail
Endowed by Dr. Dave Madsen, a longtime Honors director and history professor, and his wife Mary Anne. Awarded to outstanding Honors students at the end of their first year in the program. Open to students on the Intellectual Traditions and Society, Policy and Citizenship tracks with a 3.0 or higher GPA, with priority to Intellectual Traditions. Amounts are not published. Awards are announced at the spring Honors celebration and applied the following year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year Honors students on the Intellectual Traditions or Society, Policy and Citizenship tracks with strong grades and real engagement in the Honors community. Innovations-track students are not eligible.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Madsen award amounts aren’t published and depend on the endowment each year.
Check the major before you count on Honors: Engineering students can’t be admitted because of schedule conflicts, and Matteo Ricci students are ineligible because that program has its own curriculum. Nursing, Diagnostic Ultrasound, science BS programs, and some forensic majors can only join the three-year Innovations track.
Three Honors Tracks
Intellectual Traditions: two years of philosophy, history, literature, and the history of science.
Society, Policy and Citizenship: two years, with year two leaning into political economy and social sciences.
Innovations: three years, built for credit-heavy majors with rigid schedules.
Honors FAQs (Seattle University)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. Your student is invited after applying to Seattle U with an Honors-compatible major, then completes a separate Honors application. The one exception is Sullivan Scholars, who are admitted automatically.
Does Honors come with money?
Yes. Every Honors student gets $1,800 a year for four years, on top of merit. After the first year, students on the Intellectual Traditions or Society, Policy and Citizenship tracks with a 3.0 GPA can also be selected for the Madsen Family Honors Scholarship.
Can my student use AI on the Honors essay?
No. The program says it expects no AI use of any kind in the application and can rescind admission over it. Make sure your student writes this one fully in their own voice.
Can Honors students double major?
Yes, and most do. Several majors (Creative Writing, Economics, English, History, Philosophy) count certain Honors seminars toward the major, which frees up room.
Does Honors help with scholarships later?
It tends to. Seattle U notes that many Honors students apply for and receive Naef or Bannan scholarships in spring of sophomore year, and the program has produced Truman Scholars and Fulbright recipients.
Seattle U is a mid-sized Jesuit university on Capitol Hill, about a 20-minute walk from downtown Seattle, with small classes (an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio) and every class taught by faculty, not grad students.
What sets it apart is the location. Students study in one of the country’s biggest tech and health care economies, and the programs are built to plug into it. U.S. News ranked Seattle U #1 in Washington for “Best Value” among national universities for 2027.
Nationally Known Program: Albers School of Business and Economics: Albers’ undergraduate Business Analytics program is ranked #16 in the country and Marketing #24, and both are the top-ranked programs of their kind in Washington. Accounting and finance are long-time strengths, and Seattle’s employer base gives students internship options most campuses can’t match.
Nursing: students are admitted straight into the four-year nursing cohort, which is why it’s one of only two majors with Early Decision. The undergraduate program is nationally ranked (#94).
Engineering: ranked #38 nationally among engineering programs at schools without a doctorate. One catch: engineering students can’t join the Honors Program.
Computer Science and Criminal Justice: both are popular, career-focused majors. Criminal Justice includes a forensic science specialization.
Law, the fast way: Seattle U offers an accelerated 3+3 path that gets students a bachelor’s and a law degree in six years instead of seven.
Cornish College of the Arts: the arts college is now part of Seattle U. Starting in fall 2027, students on both campuses will be able to cross-enroll in each other’s courses.
🔗 Official Seattle University Links
Use Seattle University’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, and costs before you make decisions. When our guide and Seattle U’s site disagree, Seattle U’s site wins.
Here’s Seattle U in a nutshell: a private Jesuit school in the middle of a big-city job market, where nearly every family gets a discount, but you won’t know how big until the offer shows up. Every admitted student gets at least $8,000 a year, test scores are truly optional (even for money), and the Honors Program adds another $1,800 on top.
The biggest wins are reserved for families who fit a pipeline: Catholic and Jesuit high school students (the Sullivan full ride and the 48% tuition guarantee), Washington College Bound kids with a 3.5 GPA (Seattle U Bound), and foster youth (Fostering Scholars). If that’s not you, the playbook is simple: apply Early Action by November 1, run the Net Price Calculator, file the FAFSA by February 1, and set an April reminder every year for ScholarshipUniverse. And if your student starts in fall 2027, they’ll be the first class to do all four years on semesters.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent and a dad who went through the college money maze with his own daughter. He builds these guides from each school’s official pages so middle-income and first-gen families can see the real numbers, free and with no strings attached. More about Leo →
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