Seattle U Merit Aid

1. Mistaking the $8,000 Merit Award floor for the school's full merit ceiling.+

   The Merit Award page lists $8,000 as a minimum; stronger applicants receive larger awards that are communicated in the admission decision rather than on the public scholarship page. Treating $8,000 as the cap underestimates Seattle U's real merit posture.

2. Applying to Seattle U from a public high school and expecting Sullivan consideration.+

   The Sullivan Leadership Award is explicitly restricted to graduates of Jesuit or Catholic high schools. Public-school students are eligible for general Merit Awards and need-based aid but not the school's flagship full-ride.

3. Assuming an outside scholarship at Seattle U won't change the institutional package.+

   Seattle U's published policy says outside awards are added to the package and disbursed in thirds across quarters, but doesn't promise institutional aid stays unchanged. Get a written displacement answer from Student Financial Services before celebrating a private award.

B+/A students from Jesuit or Catholic high schools who want a small-Catholic feel inside a major West Coast city, plus families who can absorb the gap between Seattle's $80K+ cost of attendance and the modest automatic merit floor.

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $82,726 for 2026-27. Tuition $59,400 (12–18 credits), on-campus housing ~$11,202, food ~$6,426, plus mandatory fees totaling ~$1,920. Living-with-parents total is roughly $71,146. Source

Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.

Seattle University requires students to report outside scholarships, labels them 'Private Outside Scholarship' on the award letter, and disburses them equally across the three quarters unless the donor specifies otherwise. The public outside-scholarship page does not state which fund (institutional aid vs. self-help) is reduced first when a package must be revised.

Outside awards are added to the Seattle U award letter and disbursed in equal thirds across fall, winter, and spring quarters unless the donor specifies a different schedule. The public site does not commit to a specific displacement order (institutional grants vs. loans/work-study). Families with sizable outside awards should confirm in writing with Student Financial Services before relying on stacking math.

Source

Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

• Is Seattle University's merit aid automatic?

  Yes, the Seattle U Merit Award is automatic — every admitted undergraduate is considered based on their admission file, with no separate application. The Sullivan Leadership Award (full tuition + room + board for two students per year) requires a separate application and is restricted to Jesuit/Catholic high school graduates.

• How much is the Seattle University Merit Award?

  Seattle U publishes a $8,000 per year minimum and indicates larger awards are possible based on the strength of the academic record. Specific tier dollar amounts above the floor aren't published; they appear on the admission decision letter.

• What does the Sullivan Leadership Award cover?

  The Sullivan covers full tuition, room, board, and academic fees for four years — effectively a full-ride for the on-campus cost of attendance. Two awards are given per year, and only graduates of Jesuit or Catholic high schools may apply.

• How does Seattle University handle outside scholarships?

  Outside scholarships are reported to Student Financial Services, listed on the award letter as 'Private Outside Scholarship,' and disbursed equally across fall, winter, and spring quarters unless the donor specifies a different schedule. The school does not publicly state which institutional funds get reduced first if a revision is required.

• Is the cost of attendance at Seattle University really around $82,000?

  For 2026-27, Seattle U publishes a total on-campus budget of $82,726 — tuition $59,400 plus housing, food, and fees. Living with parents drops the budget to about $71,146. Most students offset this with institutional merit aid, need-based grants, and federal loans rather than paying sticker.