District at a Glance Fact Sheet
About Seattle Colleges
Seattle Colleges serves metropolitan Seattle and surrounding communities and is the largest community college district in Washington state. The district includes Seattle Central College on Capitol Hill, North Seattle College near Northgate, and South Seattle College in West Seattle.
There are also five specialty centers across the city: the Georgetown campus, the Health Education Center and NewHolly Learning Center on Beacon Hill, the Seattle Maritime Academy in Ballard, and the Wood Technology Center in the Central District.
Facts and Stats
All data is from the 2024-2025 academic year unless otherwise noted. Souce: Seattle Colleges Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Attendance and Credentials Awarded
Annual Attendance: 33,685
Degrees and Certificates Awarded Annually: 3,327
Enrollment by College, Fall Quarter 2024:
- North Seattle College: 36%
- Seattle Central College: 34%
- South Seattle College: 30%
Student Demographics, Fall Quarter 2024
Median Age: 26
Male/Female/Non-Binary/Unreported: 42%/47%/1%/10%
Full-Time/Part-Time Attendance: 38%/62%
Veteran and Dependent of Veteran: 1%
Student Type:
- Professional Technical and Other: 54%
- Academic and College Transfer: 35%
- Basic Skills and Precollege: 11%
Student Ethnic Diversity
- White: 36%
- Not Reported/Unknown: 21%
- Hispanic: 15%
- African American: 14%
- Asian: 14%
- Multiracial: 6%
- Alaska Native: <1%
- Native American: <1%
- Native Hawaiian: <1%
Operating Revenue, 2024-2025
Operating Expenses
Programs
Seattle Colleges offers more than 130 academic, workforce education, and training programs in eight areas of study that lead to certificates and/or degrees. Many of the professional technical programs offer short-term “stackable” training certificates that build on credentials and aid in career advancement.
Areas of Study
- Arts, Design, and Graphics
- Business and Accounting
- Culinary, Hospitality, and Wine
- Education and Human Services
- Health and Medical
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
- Skilled Trades and Technical Training
- Social Sciences, Humanities, and Language
Seattle Promise
Seattle Promise—a partnership created in 2018 with the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools to create more equitable higher-education opportunities for Seattle public high school graduates—has already surpassed its 2025 target enrollment. With more than 1,460 students now enrolled, Seattle Promise offers graduates, regardless of GPA, income, ability, or country of birth, two years (or up to 90 credits) of tuition and additional financial support for books, transportation, housing, etc. to those with financial need. The program also provides personal support and guidance to ensure student success. Seattle Promise—an example of Seattle Colleges’ civic and educational partnerships—was recognized in 2020 and 2023 by The Seattle Times as a flagship and leading the way for other promise programs in the region.
Preparing Students for Success and Filling Workforce Needs
Health Care
Seattle Central College operates a state-of-the-art Health Education Center at Pacific Tower to help meet the explosive growth in the industry. The number of health care openings is projected to increase by more than 23 percent (more than 35,000 jobs) in the next seven years. The 85,000-square-foot facility features labs outfitted with the latest medical and diagnostic equipment, computer labs, a library, and classrooms. Practical experience on equipment used by employers allows students to be job-ready on day one.
Maritime
A new building has quadrupled Seattle Maritime Academy’s capacity to train new and current maritime professionals. The full mission bridge and engine simulators allow both students and employers to practice challenging scenarios under realistic conditions. With an increase in veteran maritime professionals retiring, the need has never been greater for graduates to fill vital roles in the maritime sector, including commercial and passenger transportation, commercial fishing, deep sea sailing, and the workboat industry.
Computer Science and Application Development
To help meet the ever-growing demands of the tech industry, North Seattle College launched a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program in Computer Science in 2022, and recently added a Data Science track. The BS in Computer Science covers a range of critical knowledge and skill-building areas including design and usability for software and computing systems, information technology
leadership, and preparation for advanced learning in computing, science, engineering and other fields. North’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Application Development, which focuses on software development, data science, and web and mobile applications, offers another option for tech-minded students.
Integrated Education
South Seattle College recently opened a 57,550 square-foot Integrated Education Center (IEC) to increase the efficacy of vocational-focused English as a Second Language (ESL) learning, I-BEST training (basic skills while simultaneously getting job training), and nursing pathways for underrepresented populations.
Automotive Technology
South Seattle College students are now learning in the new Steve and Sharon Huling Automotive Technology Center. The 49,000 square-foot training facility is fully renovated and boasts large shop spaces with 20 service bays and all-new lifts, updated classrooms including a virtual reality training space, and new equipment throughout to provide safe, relevant training in line with the latest automotive technology industry standards.
For a comprehensive list of our academic and technical training programs, visit our programs webpage.
Seattle Colleges
1500 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
phone: 206.934.3872
website: www.seattlecolleges.edu
Chancellor: Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, co@seattlecolleges.edu
Board of Trustees: Teresita Batayola, Louise Chernin, Colleen Echohawk, Rosa Peralta, Brian Surratt
Seattle Colleges is an equal opportunity institution.
View our full non-discrimination statement and contacts.
Page last updated: November 2025