Head-to-head comparison
Gonzaga University vs Seattle University: which has better ROI?
Option A Spokane, WA
Gonzaga University
- Net price / year
- $35,119
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,892
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Option B Seattle, WA
Seattle University
- Net price / year
- $34,662
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,272
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
Gonzaga University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $140,476 in 4.6 years versus 5.2 years at Seattle University, on median earnings of $78,892 vs $75,272 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gonzaga University | Seattle University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,119 | $34,662 |
| Total net cost | $140,476 | $138,648 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,892 | $75,272 |
| Median debt | $24,454 | $19,883 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 5.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $470,164 | $399,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gonzaga University or Seattle University?
Seattle University, at $34,662 a year after aid versus $35,119 — a gap of $457 a year, or $1,828 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Gonzaga University or Seattle University graduates earn more?
Gonzaga University graduates report a median $78,892 ten years after entry, $3,620 more than the $75,272 at Seattle University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Gonzaga University or Seattle University?
Seattle University: its completers carry a median $19,883 in federal loans versus $24,454 at Gonzaga University, a difference of $4,571. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at Gonzaga University, against 76% at Seattle University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.