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Seattle Center as night fallsPhoto: Jeffery Hayes · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Seattle

Seattle is home to 11 colleges, with about 77,000 students on campus

The University of Washington-Seattle Campus (54,144 students on campus) and Seattle University (6,757) are inside the city. About 9% of Seattle’s residents are enrolled in college, above Washington (6%).

Seattle Central CollegeSeattle UniversitySeattle Pacific UniversityUniversity of Washington-Seattle CampusSouth Seattle CollegeNorth Seattle College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Seattle. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
24
110,803 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
Antioch University-Seattle
Residents in college
9%
Above WA (6%)
Nearest community college
1.4 mi
Seattle Central College · $5,184 tuition
Nearest public university
1.4 mi
Seattle Central College · $5,184 in-state
Median household income
$124K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Seattle

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Six colleges within 5.5 milesSeattle University admits 77% of applicants; Seattle Pacific University admits 83%; University of Washington-Seattle Campus admits 39%. Together they have 74,538 students on campus.A community college 1.4 miles awaySeattle Central College in Seattle: tuition and fees $5,184 a year for Washington residents.In-state price at Seattle Central CollegeLiving in Washington, Seattle Central College charges $5,184 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $5,745. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbove Washington (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Seattle

12 private colleges within 12.3 miles, five public colleges within 12.2 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Washington-Seattle CampusBellevue CollegeSeattle UniversitySeattle
University or collegeCommunity college
Antioch University-SeattleUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 800 on campus · In Seattle$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.City University of SeattleUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 501 on campus · In Seattle · mostly online$69kearnings75% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.The Seattle School of Theology & PsychologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 257 on campus · In SeattleGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Cornish College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · In SeattleSeattle Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,560 on campus · In Seattle$9knet price32%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $5,184 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Seattle UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,757 on campus · In Seattle77%admitted$35knet price76%graduate$75kearningsSeattle Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,561 on campus · In Seattle83%admitted$24knet price62%graduate$65kearningsUniversity of Washington-Seattle CampusUniversity or college · Public · 54,144 on campus · In Seattle39%admitted$14knet price85%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.South Seattle CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,519 on campus · In Seattle$6knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $5,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.North Seattle CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 2,997 on campus · In Seattle$11knet price33%graduate$48kearningsPima Medical Institute-SeattleUniversity or college · For-profit · 450 on campus · In Seattle$31knet price68%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 735 on campus · 7.7 mi · Kirkland$36knet price50%graduate$55kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Northwest UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 988 on campus · 7.9 mi · Kirkland83%admitted$22knet price71%graduate$55kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Shoreline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,684 on campus · 8.9 mi · Shoreline$9knet price29%graduate$52kearningsTuition and fees: $5,115 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bastyr UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 626 on campus · 8.9 mi · Kenmore$49kearningsBellevue CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 6,973 on campus · 9.7 mi · Bellevue$11knet price36%graduate$56kearningsLake Washington Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · 2,567 on campus · 10.4 mi · Kirkland$7knet price37%graduate$51kearningsDigiPen Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,093 on campus · 10.5 mi · Redmond64%admitted$44knet price61%graduate$80kearningsRenton Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,398 on campus · 12.1 mi · Renton$8knet price46%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,308 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Washington-Bothell CampusUniversity or college · Public · 5,676 on campus · 12.2 mi · Bothell91%admitted$12knet price65%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Cascadia CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,528 on campus · 12.3 mi · Bothell$12knet price32%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,157 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pima Medical Institute-RentonUniversity or college · For-profit · 400 on campus · 12.3 mi · Renton$32knet price69%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Olympic CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,028 on campus · 13.6 mi · Bremerton$7knet price31%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $4,197 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Edmonds CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,059 on campus · 13.7 mi · Lynnwood$11knet price29%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,810 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Seattle’s median household income ($123,860) falls.

South Seattle CollegeIn Seattle · sticker $15,385 · tuition $5,238$10,615a year
Olympic College13.6 mi · Bremerton · sticker $15,585 · tuition $4,197$13,478a year
Shoreline Community College8.9 mi · Shoreline · sticker $16,671 · tuition $5,115$16,328a year
Renton Technical College12.1 mi · Renton · sticker $17,585 · tuition $6,308$16,335a year
Lake Washington Institute of Technology10.4 mi · Kirkland · sticker $16,339$16,339a year
Seattle Central CollegeIn Seattle · sticker $17,889 · tuition $5,184$16,989a year
North Seattle CollegeIn Seattle · sticker $18,943$18,943a year
Bellevue College9.7 mi · Bellevue · sticker $20,309$19,973a year
Edmonds College13.7 mi · Lynnwood · sticker $20,062 · tuition $4,810$20,062a year
Cascadia College12.3 mi · Bothell · sticker $21,077 · tuition $5,157$21,077a year
University of Washington-Bothell Campus12.2 mi · Bothell · sticker $26,908$25,993a year
Northwest University7.9 mi · Kirkland · sticker $50,501$28,570a year
Seattle Pacific UniversityIn Seattle · sticker $56,826$29,819a year
University of Washington-Seattle CampusIn Seattle · sticker $32,446$30,019a year
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education7.7 mi · Kirkland · sticker $40,568$40,245a year
Seattle UniversityIn Seattle · sticker $72,124$42,737a year
DigiPen Institute of Technology10.5 mi · Redmond · sticker $55,588$52,617a year
Pima Medical Institute-SeattleIn Seattle · sticker $34,312—a year
Pima Medical Institute-Renton12.3 mi · Renton · sticker $35,558—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Seattle: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Seattle UniversityUniversity of Washington-Seattle CampusSouth Seattle CollegeBellevue CollegeEdmonds College
University of Washington-Seattle Campus85% graduate$78k earnings*$15k typical debt
Bellevue College36% graduate$56k earnings$12k typical debt
Seattle University76% graduate$75k earnings$20k typical debt
University of Washington-Bothell Campus65% graduate$78k earnings*$15k typical debt
South Seattle College31% graduate$44k earnings
Edmonds College29% graduate$48k earnings$12k typical debt
Olympic College31% graduate$43k earnings$12k typical debt
Seattle Central College32% graduate$43k earnings$12k typical debt
North Seattle College33% graduate$48k earnings$15k typical debt
Shoreline Community College29% graduate$52k earnings$12k typical debt
Lake Washington Institute of Technology37% graduate$51k earnings$15k typical debt
Seattle Pacific University62% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Washington-Seattle Campus (3); Pima Medical Institute-Seattle (13); Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education (2); Northwest University (2); University of Washington-Bothell Campus (3); Pima Medical Institute-Renton (13).

Majors

What students study in Seattle

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Seattle’s 8 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 12%Computer science 11%Biology 9%Business 9%Engineering 8%Social sciences 7%Everything else 44%

Biggest programs

Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 622 graduates a year
$115k4 yrs out
Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 496 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 495 graduates a year
$176k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 389 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 304 graduates a year
$97k4 yrs out
Public HealthUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 297 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
EconomicsUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 287 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus · 281 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: City University of Seattle, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Seattle

Is Seattle a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Seattle residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus, has 54,144 students on campus.

What colleges are in Seattle?

The University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Seattle University, South Seattle College, Seattle Central College and 7 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Seattle, and what does it cost?

Seattle Central College in Seattle, 1.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,184 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $8,819, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Seattle Central College cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $5,184 a year in-state and $5,745 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,883 (under $30,000 income) to $16,989 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Seattle. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →