Head-to-head comparison
Seattle Pacific University vs DigiPen Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Seattle, WA
Seattle Pacific University
- Net price / year
- $24,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,506
- Payback
- 6.1 yrs
Option B Redmond, WA
DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $44,446
- Earnings, 10 years
- $79,878
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
DigiPen Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $177,784 in 5.6 years versus 6.1 years at Seattle Pacific University, on median earnings of $79,878 vs $64,506 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Seattle Pacific University | DigiPen Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,488 | $44,446 |
| Total net cost | $97,952 | $177,784 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,506 | $79,878 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $224,968 | $452,576 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Seattle Pacific University or DigiPen Institute of Technology?
Seattle Pacific University, at $24,488 a year after aid versus $44,446 — a gap of $19,958 a year, or $79,832 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 Seattle Pacific University or DigiPen Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
DigiPen Institute of Technology graduates report a median $79,878 ten years after entry, $15,372 more than the $64,506 at Seattle Pacific 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, Seattle Pacific University or DigiPen Institute of Technology?
Seattle Pacific University: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at DigiPen Institute of Technology, a difference of $3,000. 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?
62% of students finish at Seattle Pacific University, against 61% at DigiPen Institute of Technology. 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.