Austin College vs. SPU

Deciding between Austin College and Seattle Pacific University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Austin College
Seattle Pacific University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Austin College Sherman, TX
  • SPU Seattle, WA
  • Setting
  • Austin College Small City
  • SPU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Austin College 1,217
  • SPU 2,261
  • Type
  • Austin College Private 4 Year
  • SPU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Austin College #198
  • SPU #291
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Austin College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • SPU Free Methodist
  • Status
  • Austin College Non-profit
  • SPU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Austin College
  • SPU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Austin College $48,680
  • SPU $40,407
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Austin College $48,680
  • SPU $40,407
  • Room & Board
  • Austin College $13,951
  • SPU $16,491
  • Average Net Price
  • Austin College $23,462
  • SPU $25,232
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Austin College $37,742
  • SPU $31,558
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Austin College 100%
  • SPU 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Austin College 5,282
  • SPU 2,885
  • Admitted
  • Austin College 2,517
  • SPU 2,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Austin College 47.7%
  • SPU 83.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Austin College 14.2%
  • SPU 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Austin College 1210
  • SPU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Austin College 26
  • SPU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Austin College 3.63
  • SPU 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Austin College A-
  • SPU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Austin College Challenging
  • SPU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Austin College Low
  • SPU
  • ACT Range
  • Austin College 23/29
  • SPU 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • Austin College 1100/1310
  • SPU 1050/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Austin College Test optional
  • SPU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Austin College Jul 31, 2027
  • SPU Jul 11, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Austin College 11:1
  • SPU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Austin College
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • Business (14%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • SPU
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Austin College 75%
  • SPU 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Austin College $54,600
  • SPU $50,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Austin College 72%
  • SPU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Austin College $26,000
  • SPU $25,603
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Austin College $268
  • SPU $264
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Austin College 47%
  • SPU 34%
  • % Women
  • Austin College 53%
  • SPU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Austin College High
  • SPU High
  • HBCU
  • Austin College No
  • SPU No
  • % White
  • Austin College 53%
  • SPU 61%
  • % Asian
  • Austin College 13%
  • SPU 11%
  • % Black
  • Austin College 7%
  • SPU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Austin College 19%
  • SPU 10%
  • % Native American
  • Austin College 1%
  • SPU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Austin College 0%
  • SPU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Austin College 1%
  • SPU 8%
  • % International
  • Austin College 3%
  • SPU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Austin College 3%
  • SPU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Austin College 92%
  • SPU 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Austin College 7%
  • SPU 21%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Austin College Yes
  • SPU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Austin College No
  • SPU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Austin College Yes
  • SPU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Austin College No
  • SPU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Austin College No
  • SPU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Austin College in Sherman, TX with Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Seattle Pacific University is larger than Austin College based on total student enrollment (2,261 students vs. 1,217 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Austin College is located in Sherman, TX (Small City setting); Seattle Pacific University is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
  • Austin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Seattle Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Austin College 11:1; Seattle Pacific University 13:1.

Austin College vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Austin College or SPU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Austin College than SPU ($23,462 vs. $25,232).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Austin College are 15.4% lower than at Seattle Pacific University ($13,951 vs. $16,491).
  • Austin College is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SPU (about $8,273 more per year; $48,680.00 vs. $40,407.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at Austin College than at Seattle Pacific University (about $8,273 more per year; $48,680.00 vs. $40,407.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Austin College than at Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Austin College students is 19.6% larger than aid received by Seattle Pacific University students ($37,742 vs. $31,558).

Austin College vs. SPU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Austin College or SPU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SPU and Austin College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Austin College (1210) is 20 points higher than at SPU (1190).
  • Incoming Austin College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at SPU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Austin College 1100/1310; Seattle Pacific University 1050/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Austin College 23/29; Seattle Pacific University 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Austin College - Test optional; SPU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Austin College Jul 31, 2027; SPU Jul 11, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Austin College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at SPU (3.53).
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (83.4%) than Austin College (47.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Austin College vs. 15.8% at SPU.

Austin College vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Austin College and SPU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Austin College's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Seattle Pacific University's (74%).
  • Graduates from Austin College earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than SPU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Seattle Pacific University graduates have a $397 lower median loan debt than Austin College graduates ($25,603 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, SPU graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Austin College graduates ($264 vs. $268).
  • More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Austin College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.