Seattle South vs. Seattle Central

Comparable Facts

Compare South Seattle College in Seattle, WA with Seattle Central College in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Seattle Central College is larger than Seattle South based on total student enrollment (5,396 students vs. 5,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• South Seattle College is located in Seattle, WA (Large City setting); Seattle Central College is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• South Seattle College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Seattle Central College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: South Seattle College 33:1; Seattle Central College 17:1.

Seattle South vs. Seattle Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Seattle South or Seattle Central? 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 South Seattle College than Seattle Central ($8,012 vs. $11,187).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at South Seattle College and Seattle Central ($19,041).
• South Seattle College is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Seattle Central (about $54 more per year; $5,238.00 vs. $5,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Seattle South than at Seattle Central College (about $51 more per year; $5,796.00 vs. $5,745.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Seattle College than at Seattle Central College (64% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Seattle College students is 10% larger than aid received by Seattle Central College students ($7,483 vs. $6,805).

Seattle South vs. Seattle Central Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Seattle South or Seattle Central? 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 Seattle Central and Seattle South.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Seattle South - Open admission; Seattle Central - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Seattle South Sep 13, 2026; Seattle Central Aug 31, 2027.

Seattle South vs. Seattle Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Seattle South and Seattle Central? 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).

• Graduates from South Seattle College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Seattle Central graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $35,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.