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| An Introduction to Colleges & Universities in Seattle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An Introduction to Colleges & Universities in Seattle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By April L. Karbowsky Staff Writer - SeattleSchools.com April 8, 2005 |
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When you think about Seattle and its residents, you may see them as casual, outdoor-loving, coffee-sipping sports enthusiasts. You wouldn't be far off. As far as recreation goes, the Seattle area is known for its contribution to music, with the grunge rock movement of the 90s. It also has diverse musical, artistic, architectural, and culinary scenes, based in part on its large and varied mix of ethnicities. Urban entertainment includes scenic parks, zoos, and gardens - and water sports are plentiful due to its location on Puget Sound. Within a short drive from the city, individuals can ski, snowboard, raft, and hike in locations such as Mt. Rainier National Park, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park and Rainforest, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
There are lots of fun things to do in the area but Seattle residents work hard to earn their playtime. While it's common knowledge that Seattle is home to some major corporations, such as Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Amazon.com, REI, Eddie Bauer, Nintendo, Starbucks, and Microsoft, not everyone is aware that some of the nation's newest and most innovative companies are from Seattle, in addition to a number of world-class medical centers. Seattle is also known as a leader in Asian trade, and due to a growing number of wealthy individuals, philanthropic endeavors are flourishing in the area. Residents of the Seattle area are known for having a high level of innovative spirit and education that, when combined, make the area the nation's leader in business start-ups. In fact, according to the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, in 2000 there were 125,584 students enrolled in college or graduate school (28.20% of the population). The census from that year reports that of the total population of 1,118,740 (age 25 years and older) there were 280,812 people with some college education but no degree (25.10%); 89,321 with an associate degree (7.98%); 316,451 with a bachelor's degree (28.28%), and 158,497 people who had earned a graduate or professional degree (14.16%). These figures indicate that just over 75% of the population surveyed had some level of college education.
Going to School in Seattle
Seattle is located in King County and, when combined with neighboring towns and cities in this area, has one public 4-year university, and 9 private 4-year universities for future students to choose from:
Students will find a wide range of subjects to study and major in at these institutions. Some examples are Education, Psychology, Environment & Community, and Management at Antioch University; Naturopathic medicine, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, and Health Psychology at Bastyr University; Business Management, Human Services, and Applied Behavioral Science at City University; and Atmospheric Sciences, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, Construction Management, Epidemiology, and Marine Affairs at the University of Washington.
Costs Tuition rates differ depending on the type of school selected as public universities usually have a lower tuition cost than private universities. For example, tuition for students earning a bachelor degree at the University of Washington is $1,762 per semester ($3,524 annually) for residents of Washington state ($5,972 per semester or $11,944 annually for non-residents) while Antioch University charges $4,560 per quarter for full-time students ($18,240 per year), and the rate at Seattle Pacific University is $21,447 per year. These figures do not include room & board, books, supplies, and other fees that are traditionally applied by schools once enrolled. Be sure to check for these figures as you explore your choices of schools.
Good news! In addition to traditional funding sources, such as those available through the U.S. Department of Education and via an institution's financial aid office, Washington State has 5 distinct programs in place to assist students in obtaining an advanced education.
State Need Grant
The state's lowest-income undergraduate students can be assisted in pursuing degrees by the State Need Grant. The program is expected to help 53,500 students go to college in fiscal year 2005 by using about $125 million in state money and $2 million in federal money. Eligibility requires that a student's family income cannot exceed 55 percent of the state's median family income which is currently $36,500 for a family of four. The average family income for dependent students was about $24,200 in 2003-2004 and approximately $12,800 for self-supporting students. Average grants are dependent on the type of school - $3,491 at public comprehensive universities and $4,650 at private universities.
State Work Study
State Work Study provides undergraduate and graduate students from low- and middle-income families the opportunity to earn money for college through part-time work - while gaining experience in jobs related to their career goals. The state of Washington is expected to help nearly 8,000 students attend college in fiscal 2005 by using $17 million in state money. Awards typically range between $2,000 and $5,000 annually. The average family income for dependent students was about $40,200 in 2003-2004 and approximately $12,800 for self-supporting students.
Washington Promise Scholarship
In recognition of academic achievement in high school, this program provides college scholarships to low- and middle-income students who have excelled in their studies. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must have a combined score of at least 1,200 on the SAT or at least 27 on the ACT on the first attempt, or they must rank in the top 15 percent of their senior class. The student's family income cannot exceed 135 percent of the state's median family income (about $89,900 for a family of four in 2004).
In fiscal year 2005, the program is expected to use about $8.4 million in state money to contribute to the college education of roughly 7,500 students. In the 2004-2005 academic year, students were eligible to receive up to $1,176 for this award.
Educational Opportunity Grant
To receive this grant of $2,500, students must be Washington residents, have completed only two years of college, and be "placebound" (unable to continue their education without the grant due to family or work commitments, health concerns, financial need, etc.). It is designed to encourage the completion of a bachelor's degree for students who find themselves in stressful life situations.
The grant can be used at the following universities in Seattle and King County: Antioch University, Bastyr College, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, and the University of Washington.
The program will use about $2.9 million in state money to help an estimated 1,200 students in fiscal 2005. The average family income for students who received the grant for the first time in 2003-2004 was about $26,000.
Washington Scholars Program
The accomplishments of three high school seniors from each of the state's 49 legislative districts are recognized annually by the Washington Scholars Program. High school principals nominate the top 1 percent of their school's graduating senior class. Students are selected for nomination based on academic achievement, leadership skills, and community service.
Winning students receive scholarships for up to four years of undergraduate tuition and fees at a public university or college (with resident status). It is expected that 430 students will be awarded these scholarships in fiscal year 2005.
Check out Washington State Aid Programs for more in-depth information about these financial aid opportunities.
Internships
Employment in Seattle
Washington State is experiencing a condition known as the "greying" of society. This means that a large portion of its residents are reaching or have reached retirement age, leaving a shortage of workers. In addition, the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) reports that the birth rate in the state have slowed and is expected to decline further in the next few years. The state-wide labor force growth rate declined from 3% in the 1970s and 1980s to 1.8% in the 1990s. Forecasts show that growth through 2020 is expected to decline to as little as only 0.9%.
This scenario, according to the Workforce Board, caused over 17,000 employers in Washington to have difficulties in hiring qualified workers in 2003 (the last year surveyed). At that time, over 5,000 openings existed for registered nurses, computer support specialists, and carpenters alone.
With Seattle as one of the major cities in the state, it too is being affected by workforce shortages. This means that there are plenty of job opportunities for individuals who decide to stay in the area once they have completed their college or university education.
Summary With its diverse range of ethnicities, natural resources, culture, and attitude towards innovation, Seattle is a wonderful place to choose from when considering a location to further your education needs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Financial Aid
An important part of any education is gaining hands-on experience in the field that you plan to study. Seattle has many options for students to find internships. A survey of Seattle's top five largest companies shows that