Head-to-head comparison
Seattle University vs Seattle Central College: which has better ROI?
Option A Seattle, WA
Seattle University
- Net price / year
- $34,662
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,272
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
Option B Seattle, WA
Seattle Central College
- Net price / year
- $8,819
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,307
- Payback
- No payback
Seattle University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $138,648 in 5.2 years versus not at all at Seattle Central College, on median earnings of $75,272 vs $43,307 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Seattle University | Seattle Central College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,662 | $8,819 |
| Total net cost | $138,648 | $17,638 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,272 | $43,307 |
| Median debt | $19,883 | $12,000 |
| Payback | 5.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $399,592 | -$118,698 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Seattle University or Seattle Central College?
Seattle Central College, at $8,819 a year after aid versus $34,662 — a gap of $25,843 a year, or $121,010 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 University or Seattle Central College graduates earn more?
Seattle University graduates report a median $75,272 ten years after entry, $31,965 more than the $43,307 at Seattle Central College. 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 University or Seattle Central College?
Seattle Central College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $19,883 at Seattle University, a difference of $7,883. 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?
76% of students finish at Seattle University, against 32% at Seattle Central College. 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.