Susquahanna vs. SPU

Deciding between Susquehanna 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.

Susquehanna University
Seattle Pacific University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Susquahanna Selinsgrove, PA
  • SPU Seattle, WA
  • Setting
  • Susquahanna Distant Town
  • SPU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Susquahanna 2,255
  • SPU 2,261
  • Type
  • Susquahanna Private 4 Year
  • SPU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Susquahanna #381
  • SPU #291
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Susquahanna Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • SPU Free Methodist
  • Status
  • Susquahanna Non-profit
  • SPU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Susquahanna
  • SPU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Susquahanna $59,850
  • SPU $40,407
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Susquahanna $59,850
  • SPU $40,407
  • Room & Board
  • Susquahanna $16,100
  • SPU $16,491
  • Average Net Price
  • Susquahanna $26,444
  • SPU $25,232
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Susquahanna $48,966
  • SPU $31,558
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Susquahanna 97%
  • SPU 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Susquahanna 5,513
  • SPU 2,885
  • Admitted
  • Susquahanna 4,489
  • SPU 2,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Susquahanna 81.4%
  • SPU 83.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Susquahanna 13.6%
  • SPU 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Susquahanna 1200
  • SPU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Susquahanna 25
  • SPU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Susquahanna 3.67
  • SPU 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Susquahanna A-
  • SPU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Susquahanna Challenging
  • SPU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Susquahanna
  • SPU
  • ACT Range
  • Susquahanna 21/29
  • SPU 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • Susquahanna 1100/1300
  • SPU 1050/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Susquahanna Test optional
  • SPU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Susquahanna
  • SPU Jul 11, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Susquahanna 13:1
  • SPU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Susquahanna
    • Business (24%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • SPU
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Susquahanna 77%
  • SPU 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Susquahanna $57,000
  • SPU $50,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Susquahanna 83%
  • SPU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Susquahanna $27,000
  • SPU $25,603
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Susquahanna $279
  • SPU $264
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Susquahanna 43%
  • SPU 34%
  • % Women
  • Susquahanna 57%
  • SPU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Susquahanna Low
  • SPU High
  • HBCU
  • Susquahanna No
  • SPU No
  • % White
  • Susquahanna 81%
  • SPU 61%
  • % Asian
  • Susquahanna 2%
  • SPU 11%
  • % Black
  • Susquahanna 6%
  • SPU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Susquahanna 6%
  • SPU 10%
  • % Native American
  • Susquahanna 0%
  • SPU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Susquahanna 0%
  • SPU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Susquahanna 3%
  • SPU 8%
  • % International
  • Susquahanna 2%
  • SPU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Susquahanna 0%
  • SPU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Susquahanna 62%
  • SPU 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Susquahanna 38%
  • SPU 21%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA 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 Susquahanna based on total student enrollment (2,261 students vs. 2,255 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Susquehanna University is located in Selinsgrove, PA (Distant Town setting); Seattle Pacific University is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
  • Susquehanna University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Seattle Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Susquehanna University 13:1; Seattle Pacific University 13:1.

Susquahanna vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Susquahanna 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 Susquahanna ($25,232 vs. $26,444).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Susquehanna University are 2.4% lower than at Seattle Pacific University ($16,100 vs. $16,491).
  • Susquehanna University is 48.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SPU (about $19,443 more per year; $59,850.00 vs. $40,407.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.1% higher at Susquahanna than at Seattle Pacific University (about $19,443 more per year; $59,850.00 vs. $40,407.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than at Susquehanna University (99% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Susquehanna University students is 55.2% larger than aid received by Seattle Pacific University students ($48,966 vs. $31,558).

Susquahanna vs. SPU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Susquahanna 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 Susquahanna.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Susquehanna University (1200) is 10 points higher than at SPU (1190).
  • Incoming Susquahanna students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at SPU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Susquehanna University 1100/1300; Seattle Pacific University 1050/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Susquehanna University 21/29; Seattle Pacific University 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Susquahanna - Test optional; SPU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SPU Jul 11, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Susquahanna students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at SPU (3.53).
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (83.4%) than Susquahanna (81.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Susquahanna vs. 15.8% at SPU.

Susquahanna vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Susquahanna 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).

  • Susquehanna University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Seattle Pacific University's (74%).
  • Graduates from Susquehanna University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than SPU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,000 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Seattle Pacific University graduates have a $1,397 lower median loan debt than Susquahanna graduates ($25,603 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SPU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Susquahanna graduates ($264 vs. $279).
  • More Susquahanna graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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.