Seattle University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.
- Income
- $520.5 million
- Spending
- $417.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 68%
- Employees
- 4,121
- Volunteers
- 49
- Highest pay
- $857,322, president and board member
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 34 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $354.5 million spent. Founded in 1891, Seattle University is a Jesuit, Catholic university located on a beautiful campus of more than 55 acres in the dynamic heart of Seattle. Our diverse and inclusive campus is comprised of more than 7,100 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within six schools and colleges. In the 2024-25 academic year, Seattle University awarded 1089 bachelor's degrees or equivalents, 137 post-baccalaureate certificates, 748 master's degrees, 1 post-master's certificates, and 286 doctoral degrees. Awards and high rankings for academic rigor, sustainability, community service and social justice are among the university's touchstones of excellence. SU ranks among the top universities for its academics, student-centered teaching, Community Engaged Learning and leadership in sustainability. It ranked in the Top 16 percent of universities nationally-and #23 in the West-in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking 2021. The Princeton Review continues to recognize the university as one of the best colleges in the nation for undergraduate education, according to its Best Colleges guide. Additionally, Seattle University is well represented in the 2022-2023 undergraduate and graduate rankings from U.S. News & World Report's "Best National Universities" rankings. Three Seattle University colleges rank highly and above many of its peers nationally, specifically in areas of business, nursing, computer science and engineering. The Albers School of Business and Economics ranks as the 4th best undergraduate business college in Washington and within the top three in the state in the specialty areas of analytics (#1), finance (#2) and accounting (#3). The College of Nursing ranks as the 4th best nursing college in Washington. The university's fastest growing college, the College of Science and Engineering, ranks 2nd in Washington among engineering departments not offering doctorates. In computer science, Seattle University ranks in the top one-third in the state. College Factual's 2025 rankings place Seattle University in the Top 2 of all Washington schools and in the Top 15 percent nationally. Among Seattle University's academic programs, College Factual ranked many in the top 15 percent or better nationally, including undergraduate programs in public administration, nursing, social work, marketing, computer and information sciences, accounting, biochemistry and business administration. On the graduate level: education, special education, criminal justice, clinical counseling and business management and marketing. The university is featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2022 edition. The selective guide highlights the "best and most interesting schools" in the U.S., noting in reference to SU "Jesuit tradition guarantees a nurturing environment and student growth both academically and in community service." Seattle University is recognized by the 2021-22 Colleges of Distinction for its commitment to engaged, experiential education. Colleges of Distinction universities set themselves apart through a dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Seattle University has excelled at having students graduate and enter the workforce with solid, well-developed critical thinking skills as well as the ability to adapt in an ever-changing society. Seattle University also received specialized recognition for its business, education, engineering and nursing academic programs and for its work in career development, equity and inclusion and support for veterans. The national honor society Phi Theta Kappa has recognized SU among four-year institutions for its work to attract and support transfer students. SU was the only university in the Pacific Northwest and one of only two on the West Coast to be included in the 2018 "Transfer Honor Roll." Seattle University students have a strong track record of achieving academic honors, including two Rhodes Scholars, many Truman Scholars, Udall Scholars and Fulbright recipients. The university is among the most elite schools in the country for the number of Truman Scholars it produces, a total of 16 to date. On the Athletics side, the university continues its run of strong performances in the institutional Graduation Success Rate (GSR), according to 2019 data released by the NCAA. As a department, Athletics compiled a 94 percent GSR, while seven teams tallied perfect scores in the metric. The university has tallied at least a 93 percent in every report since 2008. The university consistently receives top national honors for community service. The White House bestowed its highest honor on SU in 2012 in recognition of civic engagement, service learning and volunteerism and the university was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, with distinction. When it comes to community engaged learning, SU was #5 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges 2020" rankings. Two out of three students serve the community or take a service-oriented course, above the national average. A major focus of service is the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement, which connects students, faculty and staff with schools and community partners to improve the academic achievement of low-income youth living in the neighborhood surrounding campus. On the environmental front, Seattle University is a national leader in sustainability programs and practices. It was ranked #2 nationally among universities for its sustainability curriculum in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (ASHE) 2019 Sustainable Campus Index and #4 nationally as an overall top performer among master's institutions. SU achieved a Gold rating for sustainability from the AASHE 2019 Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating SystemTM (STARS). And the university continued its run of top rankings for sustainability by once again being named a Sierra "Cool School" for 2021. It placed #14-the top 4 percent overall-among 328
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.