Public Bachelor's Good 69/100

South Seattle College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Seattle, Washington

About South Seattle College

South Seattle College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Seattle, Washington. It enrolls 1,616 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
4.6%
Net Price
$6,004
Median Earnings (10yr)
$44,486
Enrollment
1,616
Student : Faculty
31:1

Accreditor Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 36
Value 88
Affordability 45
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for South Seattle College.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending South Seattle College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,004 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$6,004
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
10%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
4%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,238
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,796
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,041
Books & Supplies
$582
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,037
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,385

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $5,744
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $4,758
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $7,276
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $7,409
  • Over $110,000
    $10,615

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,000
10% percentile
$3,000
25% percentile
$8,696
75% percentile
$12,500
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,329
No Pell $6,378
Female students $5,500
Male students $5,250
Pell recipients: 23.7%No Pell: 28.4%Female students: 24.5%Male students: 23.4%Overall Median
What this means: Only 10% of students at South Seattle College receive Pell grants. Most enrolled families don't qualify for need-based federal aid.

Graduation Rate & Retention

5% of full-time students who enrolled at South Seattle College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
5%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South Seattle College earn a median of $44,486 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,486
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$42,000$44,000$45,000$47,000$48,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$38,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$48,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,100, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$7.4 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

South Seattle College is home to 1,616 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,616
Part-Time
35%
First-Generation
48%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 20.8% 336
Black 17.8% 288
Hispanic 17.4% 281
Asian 16.5% 266
Other 9.4% 152
International 4.3% 70
White: 20.8% (336 students)Black: 17.8% (288 students)Hispanic: 17.4% (281 students)Asian: 16.5% (266 students)Other: 9.4% (152 students)International: 4.3% (70 students)Total1,616

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at South Seattle College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Seattle, Washington
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
55% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarter scheduling structure

What You Can Study

South Seattle College offers a varied set of programs: 15 distinct programs across 10 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at South Seattle College is 31:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty
31:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$21,817
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$27M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,528
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

70 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
No Rank 70 100% $72,528

Pros & Cons of South Seattle College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Seattle College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
  • No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for: Based on the data, South Seattle College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about South Seattle College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Seattle College.

How much does South Seattle College cost?
The average net price after aid at South Seattle College is $6,004 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South Seattle College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,486 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,004 per year. That's roughly 7.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South Seattle College known for?
South Seattle College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Vehicle Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South Seattle College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South Seattle College are $44,486, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South Seattle College accredited?
Yes. South Seattle College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend South Seattle College?
South Seattle College enrolls 1,616 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South Seattle College?
South Seattle College graduates 5% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South Seattle College a public or private college?
South Seattle College is a Public institution.
Where is South Seattle College located?
South Seattle College is located in Seattle, Washington.
What programs does South Seattle College offer?
South Seattle College offers 15 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Vehicle Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Seattle College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Seattle College is 31:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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