Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations at Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific's marketing program launches graduates into first-year earnings of $44,823—placing them in the 90th percentile nationally for this degree, well above the typical $35,806. However, the state comparison tells a more complicated story: with only two Washington schools offering this specialized program, SPU lands at the 60th percentile among them, suggesting another in-state option delivers stronger outcomes.

The debt picture requires careful interpretation. At $22,000, SPU graduates carry less than the national median of $26,750, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49—meaning graduates earn roughly twice what they owe. Yet this program ranks in the 95th percentile for debt nationally, indicating most comparable programs saddle students with considerably less. That said, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outlier cases could significantly skew these numbers.

For parents weighing this investment: your child would likely earn more in their first year than most graduates from similar programs nationwide, with debt that's reasonable relative to those earnings. But if staying in Washington, investigate the other in-state program—it appears to produce even better outcomes. The combination of SPU's 91% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggests accessibility over selectivity, which might explain the variation in outcomes compared to more competitive marketing programs.