Evergreen vs. SPU

Comparable Facts

Compare The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA with Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The Evergreen State College is larger than SPU based on total student enrollment (2,490 students vs. 2,261 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The Evergreen State College is located in Olympia, WA (Midsize Suburban setting); Seattle Pacific University is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• The Evergreen State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Seattle Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Evergreen State College 17:1; Seattle Pacific University 13:1.

Evergreen vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Evergreen 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 The Evergreen State College than SPU ($18,350 vs. $25,232).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Evergreen State College are 11.5% lower than at Seattle Pacific University ($14,589 vs. $16,491).
• Seattle Pacific University is 336.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Evergreen (about $31,143 more per year; $40,407.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.6% higher at SPU than at The Evergreen State College (about $8,502 more per year; $40,407.00 vs. $31,905.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than at The Evergreen State College (99% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Seattle Pacific University students is 175.2% larger than aid received by The Evergreen State College students ($31,558 vs. $11,466).

Evergreen vs. SPU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Evergreen 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 Evergreen.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Seattle Pacific University (1190) is 50 points higher than at Evergreen (1140).
• Incoming Evergreen 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: The Evergreen State College 1035/1253; Seattle Pacific University 1050/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Evergreen State College 23/29; Seattle Pacific University 20/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Evergreen - Test optional; SPU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SPU Jul 11, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Evergreen (3.12).
• Evergreen has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than SPU (83.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.4% at Evergreen vs. 15.8% at SPU.

Evergreen vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Evergreen 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 The Evergreen State College's (54%).
• Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than Evergreen graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Evergreen State College graduates have a $8,008 lower median loan debt than SPU graduates ($17,595 vs. $25,603).
• Among borrowers, Evergreen graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SPU graduates ($181 vs. $264).
• More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Evergreen students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 57%)

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.