In 1891, two historic Jesuit institutions, Seattle Preparatory School and Seattle University, opened their doors. More than a century later, the two schools have reached an agreement to create a landmark direct admissions program.
Beginning this academic year, Seattle Prep students with a GPA of 3.5 will automatically be admitted to Seattle U. Additionally, students will receive no less than a 48% reduction in tuition cost, with more available for merit and need-based scholarships. Seattle U will also offer a single point of contact for Prep students and resources tailored to students and their families.
Seattle U President Eduardo Peñalver was an instrumental figure in constructing the deal to create a direct admissions program. He spoke to the long-standing partnership between the new schools and the exciting opportunities the new program offers:
“Seattle University has a relationship with Seattle Prep that goes back to the very beginning of both institutions in 1891,” said Peñalver. “For over 130 years, we have shared the work of Jesuit education in the Pacific Northwest. Through this new partnership, Seattle University looks forward to helping Prep students continue their journey towards the knowledge, wisdom and spiritual depth that Jesuit education aims to cultivate.”
Seattle Prep’s President Robert Jordan was another key figure behind the agreement, collaborating with Peñalver to bring the agreement life. He explained the key ideas surrounding the Seattle U partnership:
“Part of our own strategic plan is greater partnership and collaboration with colleges and universities,” said Jordan. “And it makes sense that one of the first collaborations we would do would be Seattle University, given our shared history as well as both being Jesuit institutions.”
The Jesuit link is mutually beneficial for both schools. Seattle U is eager to admit more students from Jesuit school backgrounds, particularly in the Seattle area. Through further Jesuit education and access to a larger network of Jesuit schools, Prep students will become more well-rounded and connected to their communities.
“We try to do a good job of grounding students in the mission that is unique to Jesuit schools” said Jordan, speaking to how life at Seattle Prep prepares students for Seattle U. “We also teach students how to think, not what to think. So I think that that is why Jesuit universities like to receive Jesuit students from our Jesuit high schools, because it’s a continuation of that great exploration of ideas and dialogue that they’re already used to.”
Seattle Prep and Seattle U actually have a long history of dialogue and discussion. In fact, in 1898, the schools temporarily adopted the same name, Seattle College. More recently however, the two schools shared the Matteo Ricci program, which offered Prep students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities after only three years of high school and college.
In the future, Jordan said Seattle Prep is hoping to expand this program to other Jesuit colleges. There are only two Jesuit universities in the State of Washington (Seattle U and Gonzaga University), but there are 27 across the United States. This partnership is just the beginning of a new and exciting era at Prep of more collaboration with Jesuit colleges across Seattle, Washington, and potentially the nation.
