Discover Antioch University Seattle
Antioch University’s history began in 1852 when our first campus opened in Ohio, USA. Founder Horace Mann had a vision that a well-educated populace was essential to a strong democracy, and that education should be accessible to all people. Since then Antioch University’s programs have been built on a foundation of social, economic, and environmental justice. Get to know why Antioch University stands out as a leader in progressive education.
Antioch University Seattle (AUS) got its start in true Antioch tradition as an experiment by Antioch College West, located in San Francisco, California. Inspired by the University Without Walls movement of the late ’60s, AUS was one of over 35 satellite Antioch College locations created to bring education to non-traditional students where they lived, which in Seattle’s case is the city.
The experiment to discover if a new location could succeed in Seattle began in the Fremont neighborhood, the Center of the Universe, in 1975 with 15 students, three programs, and a vision that slowly grew into the thriving community it is today. It was based on the belief real change in the wider community comes from deeper understandings of how communities function and of the people who inhabit them. So we began our offerings with Bachelor’s Completion, Psychology, and Urban Studies.
After two years of sustained growth, AUS was officially made a Regional Center on July 1, 1977. The next year we moved into a mansion on Capitol Hill to house our expanding curriculum and student body, which reached 231 that year.
AUS actively lives our 165-year old values of social and environmental justice, and throughout our time we contribute heavily to the Seattle community and beyond. In 2002, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded us a $3 million grant to create early college high schools for Native American students. And in 2004 AUS received a second grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for $6.1 million to create an additional 10 early college high schools across the nation to serve Native American youth. We started 13 schools all across the country.
AUS requires our students to get involved with the Seattle community through volunteerism, internships, and various projects. Many students, however, go beyond our requirements and with our support, start new projects that give back to Seattle, the country, and the world.
By 2005 our student body reached 1,339 and was the largest in AUS history, making it the biggest campus within the Antioch University system. We kept growing, and our experimental curriculum and inclusive values set us apart from our competition. We invited speakers like Ursula K. LeGuin and other authors of note to give workshops at our campus, which were open to the public, providing Seattle with new opportunities to connect with learned minds.
Besides community service, inclusion and forward-thinking is also in our DNA, and in July 2007, Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet became the first Native American woman to ascend to the presidency of an accredited university outside the tribal college system.
Seattle has welcomed our brand of radical thinking and community involvement, and AUS has embraced all that is Seattle. An experiment that began 40 years ago in the Center of the Universe proved itself successful time and again. We’ve moved five times in 40 years, but always we’ve stayed accessible to our students.
Today, we’ve relocated to a technologically advanced space embodying our values of sustainability, collaboration, and commitment to positive change. We’ve reaffirmed our original commitment to the Seattle community to stay where we’re needed most-in the heart of the city. We’re here to stay.
Join people in purpose.
At Antioch University Seattle (AUS), we offer programs to help you realize your career goals and gain a holistic understanding of how to create the change the world needs. Our programs are rooted in social, environmental, and economic justice to unite your passion with purpose. Come learn in an environment that encourages collaboration and exploration. The AUS campus is located in the heart of Belltown in a modern, sustainable building that embodies our values of inclusion and self-guided education.
Explore the Seattle campus now
Continue your education in one of our programs
Academic Advising
We’re here to support you throughout your time at AU Seattle and beyond. You’ll be assigned an advisor committed to empowering you to complete your degree and succeed in your coursework. One of the hallmarks of Antioch University is how committed we are to individual attention for every single student. Contact admissions today.
Transfer Students
We are committed to reducing the cost and time it takes to earn your bachelor’s degree. We accept up to 75 credits for our undergraduate degrees.
Life-Work Experience Credit
You’ve worked hard for the experience you already have, so leverage it by asking AU Admissions advisors about life-work experience credit. In some cases, your technical training, military experience, or work experience can be applied to your education. We want to help you re-enter college and finish your degree as quickly, easily, and successfully as possible.
Contact Admissions for more details today.
Narrative Assessment
Antioch University’s learning philosophy has always been based on individual evaluation and synthesis of what you’ve learned into demonstrated knowledge. At AU, we use narrative assessment, rather than letter grades, to provide a meaningful, actionable evaluation of what you’ve learned. Letter grade equivalencies for graduate school applications or employer tuition reimbursement are available upon request.
Our “no tests, no grades” philosophy appeals to some and differs from tradition for others, but we believe it accommodates people with different learning styles and better prepares you for a career in professional settings where success is often measured by presentations and written communication. AUS coursework values demonstrated learning over test scores, further preparing you for a successful career ahead.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financing an education is a priority for every student and we’re here to help. AUS financial aid advisors will guide you through options such as federal and state grants, federal loans, alternative loans, veterans’ tuition discounts and the Yellow Ribbon Program, and more.
Learn more about types of financial aid
Military-Connected Students
Antioch University is deeply grateful to those who have served our country. We welcome prior, reserve, and active military-connected students and their families to our campuses and AU Online. Reduce the cost and time it takes to earn your degree by leveraging benefits available to you, including tuition discounts and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Student Services
Antioch University’s student services are flexible and individualized. Explore our current student resources to get an idea of how we support students throughout their time at AUS and beyond.
- Disability Support Services – To request assistance or learn more, your first step is to contact our Disability Support Services office. We work with you to assess reasonable accommodation so that your learning experience is optimal.
- Antioch University Bookstore – Discounted pricing, fast shipping, and free shipping for orders of $50 or more.
- Library Services – In addition to an on-campus library, AUS uses We Deliver to make library materials available to you from the largest library catalogs in the world. Electronic material is sent to your Antioch Gmail account, and books are mailed either directly to a location of your choice, or held for pick up at the campus library — your choice. Learn more about library services.
- Virtual Writing Center – Knowing how critical good writing is to your success at AUS, in the workplace, and in life in general, offer writing support services from start to finish. AU writing tutors are available to help you with academic writing to succeed in your coursework.
Is Antioch University accredited? Yes. Antioch University is a non-profit, private institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Ready to take the next step? Let’s talk.
Not sure where to start or what program is the best choice for your goals? Connect with Admissions! Our advisors are happy to help you through the process. Call 206-268-4202 or send an email to [email protected].