Seattle Film Institute

What is the cost of studying for a year at Seattle Film Institute?

Seattle Film Institute's reported 2025-26 tuition was $17,820 for a full-time undergraduate and $34,000 for a full-time graduate student, with the same listed tuition for Washington residents and nonresidents. The reported required-fee amount for those categories was $0; that does not rule out other program or personal expenses.

• Full-time undergraduate tuition, 2024-25: $33,000.
• Full-time graduate tuition, 2024-25: $34,000.
• Part-time undergraduate tuition, 2024-25: $495 per credit.
• Reported books and supplies cost: $2,160.

A separate annual-tuition figure of $17,820 appears in institutional comparisons. Because that figure differs substantially from the reported full-time undergraduate tuition, applicants should not treat the two as interchangeable or use either without confirming the applicable program, academic period, and course load in a current written cost estimate.

Tuition is only part of attendance cost. Students also need a budget for housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses. Aid can change the amount a student pays: among reported income groups, the average net price after aid was $40,856 for families earning up to $48,000 and $46,934 for families earning $75,001-$110,000. Those group averages are not individual quotes. In 2024-25, 78% of students received financial aid and 55% had student loans; the reported average undergraduate grant award was $12,547. Eligible students should compare their own aid offer and borrowing terms against a program-specific cost of attendance.

What are the work-study opportunities at Seattle Film Institute?

Students considering paid work while attending Seattle Film Institute should distinguish ordinary part-time employment from Federal Work-Study. Work-Study is a need-based federal aid program: eligibility must appear in an individual aid award, and an award does not itself secure a job or pay tuition in advance.

For an applicant whose budget depends on employment, the useful questions are whether Work-Study appears in the aid offer, what eligible positions exist, and whether production and class schedules leave room for the required hours. Film projects and internships may provide experience, but applicants should not assume they are paid or count as Work-Study positions. Likewise, career preparation is distinct from a verified job-placement outcome.