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Salem , OR
Located in Salem, Oregon, Willamette University is a private liberal arts college with a strong reputation for academic excellence and a commitment to community engagement. Established in 1842, it is the oldest university in the western United States. Guided by its motto "Not unto ourselves alone are we born," Willamette University values intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical leadership.
At Willamette University, students can choose from a wide range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The university's College of Liberal Arts provides a rigorous education that fosters interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to explore diverse perspectives. Additionally, Willamette offers professional programs in law and management, adding depth to its academic offerings. The university boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring personalized attention and mentorship from expert faculty members.
Beyond the classroom, Willamette University is known for its vibrant campus life. The university offers numerous student organizations, including clubs, societies, and Greek life, allowing students to pursue their interests and develop leadership skills. The campus is also a hub for cultural events, art exhibitions, and performances, creating a dynamic environment that enriches the student experience. Moreover, Willamette's location in the heart of the breathtaking Pacific Northwest provides endless opportunities for outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, and exploring the region's natural beauty. Overall, Willamette University offers a rich academic and social environment that fosters personal growth and prepares students for a successful future.
Willamette University is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Salem, OR and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 77%. The freshman retention rate at Willamette University is 87% and the six-year graduation rate is 71%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is June 30. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 14.
Here are some recent information on important things to consider about Willamette University.
Quick Facts
1,683
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$53,940
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
71%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most important information you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Willamette University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,954 in 2025. Willamette University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. 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
25% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 12% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 24% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 61% between 1,200 and 1,399, 11% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 4% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 63, 25 between 24-29 and 12 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 30 and the average GPA was 3.85. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Willamette University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 685 and an average SAT Math score of 640.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is June 30. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 14.
Retention Rate
The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information 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 Willamette University was 87%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 71%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best 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 enrolled 2,201 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 70% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,683, 26 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 53 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 861 male and 1,289 female full-time students in 2025. 266 full-time graduate men and 252 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. 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 Willamette University.
This school had 65 Asian students and 39 Afro-American students in 2025. 241 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 140 as multirace. The school also had 9 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 8 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 37 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Willamette University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Willamette University? Here is what you need to know.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $53,940 in 2025. Since this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $284 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to set aside about $1,252 for books and supplies during their time at Willamette University.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Willamette University was $16,880 per academic year. If you only needed a dorm room, it cost $8,710 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $8,710.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 53,940 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,880 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,252 |
| Total Expense | $ 72,072 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Willamette University.
The most recent records show that 283 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $40,587 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 859 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 901. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $2,986,517, and state $1,117,699. The students of Willamette University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $34,784,997, and external in the amount of $878,740.
$27,150
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for 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.
155 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 81 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $20,291,745. 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 $115,431 USD.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Willamette University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 253 teachers at this school. This number included 130 male and 123 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about campus life at Willamette 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.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 83. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 9 and female students 12. Other popular student organizations at this school are Sports Clubs and Outdoor Programs.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Willamette University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Willamette University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Willamette University.
All in all, campus life at Willamette 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 Willamette University.
Career Counselling
At Willamette 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. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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Willamette University is located in Salem, OR.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Willamette University is 53,940 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Willamette University is 77%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Willamette University is 87%.
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.
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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.
