Reed vs. SPU

Should I go to Reed College or Seattle Pacific University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Reed or SPU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Reed College vs. Seattle Pacific University comparison
Reed College Seattle Pacific University College 3 College 4
Reed College Seattle Pacific University
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Overview

 Reed SPU
Location Portland, OR Seattle, WA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 1,458 2,659
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #80 #246
Religious Affiliation - Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website reed.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Reed SPU
Tuition (In State) $66,710 $37,965
Tuition (Out of State) $66,710 $37,965
Room & Board $16,820 $15,498
Avg Net Price $36,993 $26,155
Avg Grant Aid $46,317 $28,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 98%

Admission

 Reed SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,045 2,806
Admitted 2,728 2,556
Acceptance Rate 27.2% 91.1%
Enrolled % 12.9% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.53
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 29/34 20/28
SAT Range 1300/1510 1050/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 11, 2025

Academics

 Reed SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Foreign Languages (15%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Reed SPU
Graduation Rate 80% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,200 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,000 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $165 $264

Diversity

 Reed SPU
% Men 1% 6%
% Women 1% 16%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 60% 61%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 8% 8%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

 Reed SPU
% In-State 10% 71%
% Out-of-State 83% 26%

Campus

 Reed SPU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Reed based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 1,458 students)

Reed vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Reed or SPU?

  • Reed College is 75.7% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($66,710.00 vs. $37,965.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.7% higher at Reed than Seattle Pacific University ($66,710.00 vs. $37,965.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Reed ($26,155 vs. $36,993)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Seattle Pacific University are 8.5% lower than costs at Reed College ($15,498 vs. $16,820)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than Reed College (98% vs. 55%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 65% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($46,317 vs. $28,070)

Reed vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Reed or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Reed .

  • The average SAT score at Reed College (1383) is 238 points higher than at SPU (1145)
  • Incoming Reed students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at SPU (26)
  • Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at SPU (3.53)
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Reed (27.2%)

Reed vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Reed or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and Reed.

  • The graduation rate at Reed is higher than Seattle Pacific University (80% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $3,200 more per year than Reed graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $47,200)
  • Reed College students graduate with a $9,603 lower median federal student loan debt than SPU graduates. ($16,000 vs. $25,603)
  • Reed graduates are paying $99 less per month on federal student loans than SPU graduates. ($165 vs. $264)
  • More Reed graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/