Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at SPU

-44.81%

Applicants - since 2015

1.78%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at SPU over the past 10 years is 88.83%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 83.40%. Compared to the previous year, it became much more competitive to gain admission to SPU in 2025. The acceptance rate at SPU is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 16.82%, and the 2025 yield is 15.75%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 2.18% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of SPU applicants increased by 2.82% (79 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 44.81% overall.

Key Takeaways: SPU Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 83.40%, demonstrating consistent admission standards over the past decade. The stability of this rate suggests that SPU maintains a predictable and steady admissions environment for prospective students.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 15.75%. This stable yield rate reflects consistent conversion of admissions offers into actual enrollments at SPU. The stability indicates predictable enrollment outcomes and sustainable admission practices.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, SPU received approximately 2,885 applications, admitted 2,406 students, and enrolled 379 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing SPU's position in the competitive admissions landscape.

Acceptance Rate Changes

SPU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at SPU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 88.83%, while the most recent rate stands at 83.40%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 83.40%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 87.18% and for women is 89.54%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at SPU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 81.61% 82.78% 81.16%
2016-17 87.28%
5.67%
85.80%
3.03%
87.85%
6.69%
2017-18 90.87%
3.59%
90.17%
4.37%
91.16%
3.31%
2018-19 90.08%
-0.80%
87.77%
-2.40%
91.05%
-0.12%
2019-20 90.61%
0.53%
88.76%
0.99%
91.33%
0.29%
2020-21 90.62%
0.01%
88.06%
-0.70%
91.61%
0.28%
2021-22 91.99%
1.37%
91.01%
2.95%
92.01%
0.40%
2022-23 90.71%
-1.29%
89.11%
-1.90%
91.43%
-0.59%
2023-24 91.09%
0.38%
89.43%
0.32%
91.94%
0.51%
2024-25 83.40%
-7.69%
78.91%
-10.52%
85.87%
-6.07%
Average 88.83% 87.18% 89.54%
Seattle Pacific University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

SPU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 16.10% in 2015 to 15.75% in 2025, representing a 2.18% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 16.82%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at SPU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 2.18% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 16.10% 15.54% 16.33%
2016-17 19.45%
3.35%
20.40%
4.85%
19.10%
2.77%
2017-18 19.28%
-0.17%
20.88%
0.48%
18.63%
-0.48%
2018-19 19.00%
-0.29%
20.48%
-0.40%
18.40%
-0.23%
2019-20 16.05%
-2.95%
18.58%
-1.90%
15.09%
-3.31%
2020-21 18.42%
2.37%
19.05%
0.47%
18.19%
3.11%
2021-22 13.99%
-4.43%
15.98%
-3.07%
14.01%
-4.18%
2022-23 15.23%
1.24%
16.02%
0.04%
14.88%
0.87%
2023-24 14.95%
-0.28%
15.48%
-0.53%
14.68%
-0.20%
2024-25 15.75%
0.81%
15.10%
-0.39%
16.08%
1.40%
Average 16.82% 17.75% 16.54%
Seattle Pacific University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 3,938, the average number of admitted is 3,494, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 589.

The number of SPU applicants increased by 2.82% (79 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 44.81% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Seattle Pacific University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 5,227 4,266 687
2016-17 4,034
-22.82%
3,521
-17.46%
685
-0.29%
2017-18 3,692
-8.48%
3,355
-4.71%
647
-5.55%
2018-19 4,172
13.00%
3,758
12.01%
714
10.36%
2019-20 4,387
5.15%
3,975
5.77%
638
-10.64%
2020-21 3,923
-10.58%
3,555
-10.57%
655
2.66%
2021-22 4,359
11.11%
4,010
12.80%
561
-14.35%
2022-23 3,895
-10.64%
3,533
-11.90%
538
-4.10%
2023-24 2,806
-27.96%
2,556
-27.65%
382
-29.00%
2024-25 2,885
2.82%
2,406
-5.87%
379
-0.79%
Average 3,938 3,494 589
Seattle Pacific University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Seattle Pacific University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Seattle Pacific University91.09%83.40%-8.44%
Gonzaga University81.69%75.96%7.54%
Seattle University76.92%76.05%1.14%
Pacific Lutheran University78.02%80.53%-3.12%
Whitworth University89.78%86.77%3.47%
City University of Seattle---

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