March 2, 2022
Dear Students,
I hope your academic term is going well. This has been an unusual couple months at Seattle University, particularly as we transitioned to virtual learning and then back to in-person. I know it has not been easy, but I am grateful for the efforts you’ve made to adapt. Although it may seem early with so much of the school year left, we have already begun to plan for next fall, and so I wanted to provide an update on the university’s budget for the 2022-2023 academic year. While the FY23 budget is still being finalized for approval in the spring, I can share with you some of the key aspects that are now established.
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
At the heart of our decision-making and development of the FY23 budget is a commitment to assuring the excellence and affordability of your Seattle University education. This dual commitment is what informs our tuition, fees and financial aid for the coming year.
For undergraduate, graduate and law students, tuition will increase by 3.75 percent, up from the 2 percent increase we had for the current academic year but lower than the tuition increase for the 2020-2021 academic year and lower than we expect inflation to be for the year. We are expanding what was previously covered by our recreation fee to support a more comprehensive health and wellness program. This includes our new partnership with TimelyMD 24/7 telehealth services and other new wellness-related initiatives currently under development. With the wellness components added ($150), the total fee—which has not increased since its establishment in 2012—will now be $450 ($150 per quarter).
We have sought to keep these tuition and fee increases in line with the more modest increases of recent years while continuing to invest in the overall quality and excellence of your education and student experience at Seattle University. With costs increasing due to inflation and the rising cost of living in the greater Seattle area, this is a challenging balance to strike. As we develop the FY23 budget, the investment we make in our faculty and staff must match to the greatest extent possible the high standards of teaching, service and care we strive to provide to you. Compensation and benefits for faculty and staff, therefore, is a key focus for 2022-2023 and beyond. Nearly 75 percent of the university’s budget directly supports compensation and benefits for faculty and staff.
At the same time, we are aware of the financial commitment and sacrifices our students and their families make for an SU education. Student financial aid continues to be the most significant investment we make in the budget, and for 2022-2023 we are increasing aid to students by more than $5 million (or 5.7 percent). This is critical to assembling and retaining—through SU’s institutional gift aid guarantee—a community of talented students who reflect our society’s tremendous diversity.
The full details of our FY23 budget will be shared after it is finalized. I recognize this information may not directly impact those of you who are graduating in June, but I wanted to keep you informed as members of our community and future alumni.
As we move into the final stretch of winter quarter and as our law students approach the midpoint of their spring semester, please know that my very best wishes are with you. Thank you for being a part of Seattle University.
Respectfully,
Eduardo M. Peñalver
President