Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
Forest Grove , OR
Pacific University is a private university located in Forest Grove, Oregon. Established in 1849, it is the oldest university on the West Coast. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, education, health professions, and optometry. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, Pacific University provides a personalized learning experience, allowing students to engage closely with their professors and peers.
Pacific University is renowned for its strong emphasis on experiential learning and community engagement. Students have numerous opportunities to apply their knowledge through internships, research projects, and community service. This hands-on approach ensures that students are well-prepared for their future careers and have a deep understanding of how their education can positively impact society.
The university's beautiful 55-acre campus in Forest Grove offers state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research labs, and a well-equipped library. In addition to academic excellence, Pacific University is dedicated to fostering a vibrant campus life. Students are encouraged to participate in various extracurricular activities, clubs, and intercollegiate sports teams. The university's commitment to diversity and inclusivity is demonstrated through its support for students from various backgrounds, cultures, and identities. Overall, Pacific University provides a rich and supportive learning environment that prepares students for success both inside and outside the classroom.
Located in Forest Grove, OR, Pacific University is a private university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 89%. The freshman retention rate at Pacific University is 79% and the six-year graduation rate is 67%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 15.
Read more about what Pacific University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,589
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$56,962
Tuition
67%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Check out some essential facts about admission at Pacific University.
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,676 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 5% and ACT scores 5%. 3% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 41.18% between 1,200 and 1,399, 23.53% between 1,000 and 1,199, 29.41% between 800 and 999, and 5.88% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 23.53, 17.65 between 24-29, 35.29 in the range between 18-23, and 23.53 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.71. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1. When submitting your application as a transfer student, the application deadline is July 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Pacific University was 79%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 67%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best match for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 3,427 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 55% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,589, 16 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 121.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,043 male and 2,054 female full-time students in 2025. 434 full-time graduate men and 1,271 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Pacific University.
This school had 202 Asian students and 41 Afro-American students in 2025. 303 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 212 as multirace. The school also had 50 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 52 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $56,962 in 2025. Since Pacific University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,386.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,050.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Pacific University was $16,272 in 2025. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $8,880 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $9,216.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 56,962 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,272 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,050 |
| Total Expense | $ 74,284 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial help for students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pacific University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 285 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $45,002.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,097 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Pacific University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 1,097. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $2,487,936, and state $1,401,504. The students of Pacific University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $34,169,531, and external in the amount of $1,481,455.
$28,977
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,023 students overall (including freshmen) at Pacific University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 279 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $10,436,986. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $19,030 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Campus Life
Not everything at Pacific University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about campus life at Pacific University.
Its campus spans 60 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
2 percent of male and 8 of female students participate in different organizations at Pacific University. For those drawn to acting, there is a drama club where you can participate. You have a passion for media and communication? Pacific University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Pacific University has a number of services vital for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Pacific University.
All in all, campus life at Pacific University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Pacific University.
Career Counselling
At Pacific University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
-
Pacific University is located in Forest Grove, OR.
-
Pacific University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Pacific University is 56,962 USD, based on the most recent data.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent reported acceptance rate for Pacific University is 89%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Pacific University is 79%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.