Seattle Central College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Seattle, Washington. It enrolls 3,953 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.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarQuarter
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
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes37
Value76
Affordability44
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Seattle Central College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Seattle Central 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 $8,819 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,819
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
3%
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)
$5,184
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,745
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,041
Books & Supplies
$582
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,037
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,889
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
$7,883
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,893
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,422
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,555
Over $110,000
$16,989
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.
$2,33410%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$12,000Medianpercentile
$13,04275%percentile
$19,00090%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 $9,170
↓ $2,830
No Pell $8,605
↓ $3,395
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $6,500
Independent students $9,500
↓ $2,500
Female students $8,750
↓ $3,250
Male students $9,020
↓ $2,980
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,125, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
12% of full-time students who enrolled at Seattle Central College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
12%
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 Seattle Central College earn a median of $43,307 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,307
Earning > $25K
64%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$35,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.9 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Seattle Central College is home to 3,953 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,953
Part-Time
38%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 22.7%896
Black 15.3%604
Hispanic 14.9%590
Asian 14.3%564
International 9.9%392
Other 8.6%341
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Seattle Central College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySeattle, Washington
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
38%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Seattle Central College offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
12 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Seattle Central College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,032
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$8.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$94,899
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
132 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
132
100%
$94,899
Pros & Cons of Seattle Central College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Seattle Central College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Seattle Central College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Seattle Central College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Seattle Central College.
How much does Seattle Central College cost?
The average net price after aid at Seattle Central College is $8,819 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Seattle Central College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,307 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,819 per year. That's roughly 4.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Seattle Central College known for?
Seattle Central College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, IT Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Seattle Central College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Seattle Central College are $43,307, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Seattle Central College accredited?
Yes. Seattle Central College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Seattle Central College?
Seattle Central College enrolls 3,953 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Seattle Central College?
Seattle Central College graduates 12% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Seattle Central College a public or private college?
Seattle Central College is a Public institution.
Where is Seattle Central College located?
Seattle Central College is located in Seattle, Washington.
What programs does Seattle Central College offer?
Seattle Central College offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, IT Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Seattle Central College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Seattle Central College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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