Private For-Profit Graduate Strong 73/100

Seattle Film Institute

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

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Seattle, Washington

About Seattle Film Institute

Thinking about Seattle Film Institute, a college in Washington where more students graduate in Visual & Performing Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Seattle Film Institute is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Seattle, Washington. It enrolls 65 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
—
Graduation
—
Net Price
$41,595
Median Earnings (10yr)
—
Enrollment
65
Student : Faculty
8:1

Accreditor Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Open / Online), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 72
Value —
Affordability 38
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Seattle Film Institute does not report an acceptance rate. Schools that do not publish one are usually open-admission, but confirm with the admissions office before you assume it.

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

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $41,595 a year on average, it sits above what private for-profit colleges charge nationally. That is a serious number, so the earnings further down matter more here than usual. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$41,595
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
57%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
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
$33,000
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,310
Books & Supplies
$740
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,784
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,496

Application fee: $100 (one-time, due at submission)


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
    $39,209
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $40,856
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $46,934

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.

$13,000
Median 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 $12,063 ↓ $937
No Pell $12,500 ↓ $500
Dependent students $10,917 ↓ $2,083
Independent students $18,250 ↑ $5,250
Female students $11,875 ↓ $1,125
Male students $12,125 ↓ $875
Pell recipients: 15.5% (2,017 students)No Pell: 16.1% (2,091 students)Dependent students: 14.0% (1,826 students)Independent students: 23.5% (3,052 students)Female students: 15.3% (1,986 students)Male students: 15.6% (2,028 students)Overall Median$13,000
What this means: Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 57% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.

Graduation Rate & Retention

70% come back after first year. A sizeable share do not return for year two. Worth asking why. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 65 students, an intimate, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled
65
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
White 50.8% 33
Black 16.9% 11
Other 13.9% 9
Hispanic 9.2% 6
Asian 9.2% 6
White: 50.8% (33 students)Black: 16.9% (11 students)Other: 13.9% (9 students)Hispanic: 9.2% (6 students)Asian: 9.2% (6 students)Total65

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Seattle Film Institute. 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
58% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarter scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Seattle Film Institute offers a focused set of programs: 5 distinct programs across 1 major. 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.

5 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 8 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.

Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,500
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Pros & Cons of Seattle Film Institute

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Seattle Film Institute is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • High net price compared to most US colleges
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
  • For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for: Based on the data, Seattle Film Institute is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Seattle Film Institute

The questions families ask most about Seattle Film Institute, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

How much does Seattle Film Institute cost?
Budget around $41,595 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Seattle Film Institute known for?
Mostly Film & Video Production, Music, Film & Video Production. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Seattle Film Institute accredited?
Yes. Seattle Film Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend Seattle Film Institute?
65 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Seattle Film Institute a public or private college?
It is Private For-Profit. Private for-profit, so compare completion and earnings carefully against a public alternative.
Where is Seattle Film Institute located?
Seattle Film Institute is located in Seattle, Washington.
What programs does Seattle Film Institute offer?
5 different programs, most commonly Film & Video Production, Music, Film & Video Production. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Seattle Film Institute?
8 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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