
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology is a private graduate institution founded in 1997 as Mars Hill Graduate School. Its later adoption of the Seattle School name reflects the identity it uses today: a school focused on the intersection of theology, counseling psychology, and community life.
The name change matters for applicants reviewing older publications or alumni credentials; references to Mars Hill Graduate School may concern the same institution. Prospective students should use the current academic catalog, rather than historical program descriptions, to determine which degrees and requirements apply to a new enrollment.
The Seattle School is a specialized graduate school, not a university with a broad range of undergraduate colleges. Its academic offerings center on counseling psychology and theology and culture, with study shaped by the relationship between those fields.
Its degree options include a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Arts in Theology & Culture. Applicants should compare each program's current catalog requirements, particularly supervised clinical training for counseling students and any format or residency requirements for advanced ministry study. An applicant seeking a bachelor's degree or a conventional undergraduate major will need a different institution.
The Seattle School is in Seattle, Washington, an urban setting rather than a residential college campus. Its location can put students near counseling organizations, faith communities, and other potential professional connections, although access to any particular placement depends on the program and host organization.
Commuting is a practical consideration. Students should check the location of their classes and any clinical placement separately: a placement may require travel beyond the school's teaching site. Seattle-area public transportation offers an alternative to driving, while parking arrangements and travel times depend on a student's schedule and destination.
The Seattle School describes its educational purpose in Christian theological terms and emphasizes the integration of theology, psychology, and cultural engagement. That orientation is relevant even for applicants whose principal goal is counseling practice: the intellectual and community setting is not religiously neutral.
A prospective student should read the current mission statement alongside course descriptions and admissions materials to judge the fit between the school's stated commitments and their own goals. A stated mission describes what the institution aims to do; it does not, by itself, establish a particular educational or career outcome.
Name of the institution
The Seattle School of Theology & PsychologyLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, graduate with no undergraduate degreesInstitution size category
Under 1,000The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology is institutionally accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.