DBU vs. SPU

Deciding between Dallas Baptist University 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.

Dallas Baptist University
Seattle Pacific University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DBU Dallas, TX
  • SPU Seattle, WA
  • Setting
  • DBU Large City
  • SPU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • DBU 4,124
  • SPU 2,261
  • Type
  • DBU Private 4 Year
  • SPU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DBU #542
  • SPU #291
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DBU Baptist
  • SPU Free Methodist
  • Status
  • DBU Non-profit
  • SPU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DBU
  • SPU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DBU $40,190
  • SPU $40,407
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DBU $40,190
  • SPU $40,407
  • Room & Board
  • DBU $11,876
  • SPU $16,491
  • Average Net Price
  • DBU $30,057
  • SPU $25,232
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DBU $22,711
  • SPU $31,558
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DBU 97%
  • SPU 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DBU 6,163
  • SPU 2,885
  • Admitted
  • DBU 5,475
  • SPU 2,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DBU 88.8%
  • SPU 83.4%
  • Enrolled
  • DBU 11.2%
  • SPU 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DBU 1090
  • SPU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • DBU 23
  • SPU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • DBU 3.46
  • SPU 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DBU B+
  • SPU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DBU Moderate
  • SPU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • DBU
  • SPU
  • ACT Range
  • DBU 20/26
  • SPU 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • DBU 960/1213
  • SPU 1050/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DBU Test optional
  • SPU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • DBU
  • SPU Jul 11, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DBU 16:1
  • SPU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DBU
    • Business (28%)
    • General Studies (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • SPU
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DBU 56%
  • SPU 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DBU $47,700
  • SPU $50,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DBU 54%
  • SPU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DBU $21,750
  • SPU $25,603
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DBU $224
  • SPU $264
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DBU 41%
  • SPU 34%
  • % Women
  • DBU 59%
  • SPU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DBU High
  • SPU High
  • HBCU
  • DBU No
  • SPU No
  • % White
  • DBU 60%
  • SPU 61%
  • % Asian
  • DBU 2%
  • SPU 11%
  • % Black
  • DBU 15%
  • SPU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • DBU 15%
  • SPU 10%
  • % Native American
  • DBU 1%
  • SPU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DBU 0%
  • SPU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DBU 0%
  • SPU 8%
  • % International
  • DBU 7%
  • SPU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DBU 0%
  • SPU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DBU 92%
  • SPU 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DBU 8%
  • SPU 21%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Dallas Baptist University is larger than SPU based on total student enrollment (4,124 students vs. 2,261 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dallas Baptist University is located in Dallas, TX (Large City setting); Seattle Pacific University is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
  • Dallas Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Seattle Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dallas Baptist University 16:1; Seattle Pacific University 13:1.

DBU vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DBU 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 Seattle Pacific University than DBU ($25,232 vs. $30,057).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dallas Baptist University are 28% lower than at Seattle Pacific University ($11,876 vs. $16,491).
  • Seattle Pacific University is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than DBU (about $217 more per year; $40,407.00 vs. $40,190.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at SPU than at Dallas Baptist University (about $217 more per year; $40,407.00 vs. $40,190.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than at Dallas Baptist University (99% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Seattle Pacific University students is 39% larger than aid received by Dallas Baptist University students ($31,558 vs. $22,711).

DBU vs. SPU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DBU 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 DBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Seattle Pacific University (1190) is 100 points higher than at DBU (1090).
  • Incoming SPU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at DBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dallas Baptist University 960/1213; Seattle Pacific University 1050/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dallas Baptist University 20/26; Seattle Pacific University 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DBU - Test optional; SPU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SPU Jul 11, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at DBU (3.46).
  • DBU has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than SPU (83.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at DBU vs. 15.8% at SPU.

DBU vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DBU 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).

  • Seattle Pacific University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Dallas Baptist University's (56%).
  • Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than DBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dallas Baptist University graduates have a $3,853 lower median loan debt than SPU graduates ($21,750 vs. $25,603).
  • Among borrowers, DBU graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SPU graduates ($224 vs. $264).
  • More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DBU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 54%)

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.