Private nonprofit university in Seattle offering flexible, career-focused degrees for working adults since 1973.
City University of Seattle offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs through six academic divisions: the School of Management, Albright School of Education, Division of Arts and Sciences, Division of Doctoral Studies, International College, and Washington Academy of Languages. The School of Technology and Computing features an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and is designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security. The School of Management holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and Project Management degree programs are accredited by the Project Management Institute.
The main campus occupies 1.15 acres in downtown Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, within walking distance of the Space Needle and Amazon Spheres. CityU also operates satellite locations in Tacoma, Edmonds, and Vancouver, Washington. The university maintains international partnerships offering programs in Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Slovakia, and Vietnam. With a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 900+ faculty members, the university emphasizes personalized support and flexible learning formats—online, hybrid, and in-person—with 10-week accelerated quarters.
CityU accepts 100% of new learners and offers free applications for U.S. students ($50 for international students). The university welcomes first-time learners, military students, transfer students (accepting up to 135 approved transfer credits for bachelor's degrees), and international students. Multiple start dates throughout the year accommodate working professionals. Transfer students can have credits evaluated and applied toward degree completion.
According to recent graduate surveys, 86% of CityU alumni reported salary increases within two years of graduation, with an average increase of 58%. Seventy-four percent of graduates work in fields related to their degree, and 9 in 10 alumni reported benefits including new career opportunities and personal development. The university has graduated over 50,000 students worldwide since its founding.