Admission Requirements

Successful candidates complete the following minimal program in high school (each unit is equivalent to one academic year of study): 

• English: 4 units
• Mathematics (college preparatory): 3 units*
• Social studies: 3 units
• Laboratory science: 2 units**
• Foreign language: 2 units
• Additional academic units from above disciplines: 2 units

Additional Requirements

Seattle University offers the distinct advantage of considering freshman applicants for direct admission to specific majors. Accordingly, there are specific additional requirements for admission to certain majors.

* Applicants to the College of Science and Engineering must complete 4 units of college preparatory mathematics for admission to any of its specific majors. (Students who have only completed three units may be considered for pre-science). Applicants to the College of Nursing must complete three years of college preparatory mathematics to be viable candidates.

Applicants to the Albers School of Business and Economics must complete 3 units of college preparatory mathematics  to be considered for admission. Please see below for test score requirements.

• Applicants to the Business and Law major must complete 4 units of college preparatory mathematics to be considered for admission including the equivalent of precalculus, as well as have scores of 640+ on the SAT Math (2016+ edition) or 26 or higher on the ACT Math section. Students who do not meet the test requirements but have strong math grades may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants to the Sport and Exercise Science program must have 4 units of college preparatory mathematics, including the equivalent of precalculus. Applicants must also complete laboratory biology and chemistry to be considered for direct entry.

Applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program must have 4 units of college preparatory mathematics, including the equivalent of precalculus. Applicants must also complete laboratory biology and chemistry to be considered for direct entry.

**  Applicants for engineering majors and Diagnostic Ultrasound must complete laboratory physics and chemistry. Please see below for test score requirements.

**Applicants for Biology, Biochemistry and Chemistry must complete laboratory biology and chemistry to be considered for admission. Please see below for test score requirements.

***Applicants to the College of Nursing must complete a full year each of laboratory biology and laboratory chemistry. Please see below for test score requirements.

Matteo Ricci

First time in College Applicants to the MRC Humanities program who do not currently attend a consortium school must show assessment in one of five academic areas: English, mathematics, U.S. History, fine arts, or laboratory science. The following options note the methods through which these assessments may be met:

• College credits earned in one of the four academic areas through dual enrollment programs such as Running Start. See our transfer credit policy for more information.
• College credits earned in one of the four academic areas through College Board Advanced Placement exams. See our Advanced Placement credit policy for exams and scores accepted at Seattle University.
• College credits earned in one of the four academic areas through the International Baccalaureate exam. See our IB Diploma policy for college credit eligibility.

Applicants should submit their college transcripts or exam scores to Seattle University with their application materials. Prospective students should indicate coursework or exams that are in progress under the "Additional Information" section of the Common Application.

Please note that the Humanities in Teaching and Humanities for Leadership majors are available to all applicants without any additional requirements.

Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate

Please refer to the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate policies in our policies section.

Gaps in Education

If an applicant has a gap in education of 5 or more years, they may be asked to establish a current academic record at another college or university prior to applying for admission at Seattle University.  In addition, recent prerequisite coursework may be needed to apply to specific majors. Please contact your Admissions Counselor  for more information.

English proficiency requirements

Applicants whose native language is other than English must demonstrate English proficiency regardless of length of residency in the U.S., their citizenship or their immigration status. For information on how to demonstrate proof of English proficiency, please visit our policy page.

Test score policy

Seattle University uses the highest sub-scores on both the ACT and SAT Reasoning test when making admission and scholarship decisions and in the advisement and course placement of first time freshmen. Since we use the highest separate scores from different test administrations (e.g., the highest evidenced-based reading and writing and the math scores from the SAT; the highest English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning sub-scores from the ACT) we strongly encourage students to provide Seattle University with all their results from all administrations of the ACT and or SAT.

Although it is not required for international students to submit the SAT or ACT, the Admissions Office recommends international students take either exam and submit their scores. SAT or ACT scores are also required for international students to be eligible for merit scholarships.

Test scores must be received from first-time freshman applicants no later than November 15 for those applying for early action and no later than January 15 for those applying for regular admission consideration.