Seattle Pacific University (SPU) is a private Christian institution located in Seattle, Washington. Established in 1891 by Free Methodist pioneers, it was initially founded as the Seattle Seminary, with the purpose of training missionaries for overseas service. In 1913, the institution became known as Seattle Seminary and College, and two years later, it adopted the name Seattle Pacific College. It officially became Seattle Pacific University in 1977.
On June 5, 2014, a shooting occurred at Otto Miller Hall, where one student was killed and two others were injured. The gunman, who had no affiliation with the university, was disarmed by student Jon Meis, who used pepper spray to stop him. For his actions, Meis was honoured with a Citizen Honors award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in 2015. The gunman was convicted on November 16, 2016, and sentenced to 112 years in prison.
Campus
The university is located on a 43-acre campus at the northern tip of Queen Anne Hill, close to the Fremont neighbourhood, and about four miles north of downtown Seattle. Many of the trees in the central Tiffany Loop are among the city's oldest.
In addition to its main campus, SPU operates two satellite facilities. One is a wilderness field station on Blakely Island in the San Juan Islands, which specialises in biology. The other is Camp Casey, a former U.S. military fort on Whidbey Island, now repurposed as a conference and retreat centre.
Seattle Pacific University Ranking
While evaluations from other ranking organisations are still forthcoming, the U.S. News & World Report rankings provide an early spotlight on the university’s performance.
|
Category |
Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|
|
National Universities |
273 |
|
Best Undergraduate Engineering Program |
78 |
|
Nursing |
254 |
Seattle Pacific University Global Rankings
QS World University Rankings (2024)
Seattle Pacific University is absent from the 2024 QS World University Rankings. This further underscores the challenges faced by some universities in gaining recognition within these highly regarded global rankings systems. The QS rankings, known for evaluating institutions based on factors such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, and international diversity, do not feature Seattle Pacific University among its ranked institutions.
Times Higher Education (THE) (2024)
Seattle Pacific University is notably missing from the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) global rankings. Despite the presence of numerous institutions from around the world, Seattle Pacific University does not make the list of those ranked for this year. Its absence from these rankings highlights the competitive nature of global higher education evaluations, where only select institutions are recognized for their academic performance, reputation, and impact.
U.S. News & World Report (2024)
U.S. News & World Report's global rankings for 2024, Seattle Pacific University is also not included. However, the university does receive recognition in specific categories, reflecting its strengths in certain academic or institutional areas, even though it is not featured in the overall global rankings.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Seattle Pacific University Ranking 2025
1: How many international students attend SPU?
A: SPU has a small but active international population — currently approximately about 180 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students. Our international students represent about 45 different countries.
2: When will one receive an admission decision?
A: If you are a first year applicant and complete your file by the Early Action deadline (November 1), you should hear in January. If you apply for regular admission, you will likely hear in March. If you are a transfer applicant, you can expect to hear from us within four weeks of completing your application.