Admission Requirements

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.

Direct Entry Admissions Requirements

Seattle University offers the distinct advantage of considering freshman applicants Direct Entry to specific majors. Accordingly, there are specific additional requirements for admission to certain majors. Some programs require additional credit requirements and minimum test scores for Direct Entry consideration.

For instance, if a student indicates "Nursing" on the Common Application, that student will be considered for admission to Seattle University in the Nursing program. If admitted, that student will be eligible to begin taking classes—or pre-requisites—in the Nursing program from the start of their enrollment at SU.

Albers School of Business and Economics

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.

College of Arts and Sciences

Applicants to the Kinesiology 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.

Matteo Ricci Institute

First time in College Applicants to the MRI 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. 

College of Nursing

Applicants to the College of Nursing must complete three years of college preparatory mathematics, as well as a full year each of laboratory biology and laboratory chemistry to be viable candidates. Please see below for test score requirements.

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

College of Science and Engineering

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 for Engineering majors 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.

Direct Entry Test Score Requirements

*with the exception of Pre-Science and Pre-Engineering

Please note that students who do not meet the qualifications listed above may still be admissible to the university and ultimately able to pursue majors listed above (with the exception of Nursing). 

Students who have not yet selected a major should contact the Admissions Office to learn more about our Premajor, Pre-Business, Pre-Science and Pre-Engineering programs.