Jesuit Education

Seattle University’s Jesuit educational experience is so transformative, powerful and empowering because it’s built on a time-tested foundation for success.

Who We Are
Jesuit Education

A Global Network of Future-Focused People

When you choose Seattle University, you get more than our close-knit campus community and 95,000-strong alumni network. You join a community with millions of Jesuit-educated alumni. From Boston College and Georgetown University in the East to Seattle University and Santa Clara University in the West, there are 28 Jesuit universities in the United States and an additional 200 higher education institutions worldwide.

Jesuit education is about excellence with purpose, empowering you to realize your full potential through an inclusive and holistic educational experience. It prioritizes the pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking and intellectual curiosity as lifelong endeavors to better understand and engage with the world.

This action-oriented approach emphasizes that what you do with the knowledge you gain is just as important as acquiring it.

When combined with our location in a global hub for technology, innovation, progress and creativity and its vibrant and diverse culture, our forward-looking education offers a unique advantage in preparing you to succeed in and shape a constantly changing world for the better.

Our Time-tested Foundation for Success

Our alumni are quick to talk to you about the high-quality education they received and the personal growth they experienced. It also transformed them to become leaders in their professions and catalysts for positive change in their communities.

Deeper Learning

A Fearlessly Inclusive Education That Changes Lives

Jesuit education teaches you how to think, not what to think. It goes beyond surface-level knowledge, engaging you in active learning, challenging you to test the status quo and commonly accepted knowledge and preparing you to address complex issues and how they impact society and those on the margins.

Educating students as whole persons situated within complex identities and lived experiences is central to our university’s mission and commitment to a culture and curriculum of inclusive excellence.

Seattle University is a place for individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, identities and faiths—whether you are religious or nonreligious. We strive to ensure all feel a sense of belonging and can grow and develop by actively engaging in an intentionally inclusive learning experience and community.

Purposeful Lives

Prepared for Leadership and Service

Jesuit education invites students to embrace a purposeful life of leadership, serve something greater than self and make a positive difference in the world.

By instilling the values of service, compassion and justice, it equips you with the tools to be globally engaged citizens. After your time at Seattle University, you’re prepared to address the most pressing challenges of our time, such as climate change, racial injustice and the societal and economic impacts of technological change.

You are encouraged to integrate your knowledge and skills with a deep sense of purpose to advocate for social change and the greater good.

Jesuit education inspires students to serve with and for others—especially the poor and marginalized. Community-engaged learning through opportunities like the Seattle University Youth Initiative is integral in your education and personal and professional formation at Seattle University.

Empowering Leaders

Moving Humanity Forward

Jesuit education is well-known for its distinctive approach to developing and empowering leaders to better humanity and bring about meaningful change in the world.

By combining academic excellence with a strong focus on personal development, Jesuit education empowers you with the critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills, and values and perspectives to become influential and impactful leaders.

Through this culture of intellectual rigor and open-mindedness you learn how to navigate ambiguity, adapt to change and lead with creativity and innovation.

Jesuit-educated students become competent and accomplished leaders who are compassionate, ethical and dedicated to making a lasting impact on the world around them.

Committed to Your Success

Paige Gardner, faculty in the College of Education at Seattle University

Holistic

Jesuit education focuses on developing every facet of who you are. This whole-person approach nourishes the mind, body and spirit. It also helps you become a well-rounded individual who is socially responsible, ethically grounded and globally aware.

student flipping through textbook pages while eating lunch

Rigorous

A Jesuit education emphasizes rigor: in-depth study, critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical skills and a dedication to academic excellence. Our faculty care deeply about your intellectual and personal growth, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and mindset needed to succeed in your chosen field.

students observing and taking notes at Discovery Park for geology class

Experiential

Our innovative education bridges theory and practice through hands-on and experiential learning. You develop practical skills, gain valuable insights and apply your knowledge to real-life scenarios. Seattle University offers a wide range of opportunities to participate in internships with leading companies, community-engaged learning, lab and field work, clinical simulations, collaborating on real-world projects for industry leaders and conducting interdisciplinary research with faculty.

Classroom Discussion with One Student Speaking

Discerning

Jesuit education places a significant emphasis on reflection and deliberate consideration of the ethical and moral implications in decision-making. In considering possible solutions and their societal impacts when confronting complex problems, you learn how to choose the better way forward.

large crowd of students gathered at the Fall Involvement Fair

Diverse and Inclusive

At Seattle University, we acknowledge and value diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds and embed them into the curriculum. By actively engaging with issues of justice, equity and inclusivity in the learning process, we go beyond superficial representation and foster an environment where all individuals are respected, heard and included in the educational discourse. This prepares you to engage with a diverse world, challenge biases, develop empathy and contribute to building a more just and inclusive society.

Beautiful 55-Acre Campus in the Heart of Seattle

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120+

Undergraduate, Graduate & Certificate Program

Average Class Size

11:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

98%

Students Employed Or Pursuing Graduate Degrees Within Six Months

Find out more about the Seattle U Impact

Alumni Impact

SU student Chris Mercurio smiling and holding an umbrella

Chris Mercurio, ’17

“What brought me to Seattle U—at first—was it’s a smaller school. The Jesuit tradition has affected me in building my confidence and building my own identity.”

Digital Design

Learn More About the Jesuits

Learn the lingo of the Jesuits with this easy-to-understand guide about the top terms you’ll encounter. Also look at our book recommendations if you’d like to learn more about Jesuit history and contemporary issues.

Jesuitology