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PrivateUrban

Willamette University

Salem, Oregon 97301

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Small & IntimateUrbanPrivate

Private urban college in Salem

Willamette University is a private urban institution in Salem, Oregon. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1339.

A small campus of 1.5K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

73% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $56,911 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $23,663.

Established
1842
Motto
Non nobis solum nati sumus
Mascot
Blitz
Type
Private liberal arts college
Conference
Northwest Conference league
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

1 upcoming visit · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

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79%Acceptance
1339SAT Avg
1,525Students
12:1Student:Faculty
73%Grad Rate
$56,911Earnings 10yr
$23,663Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Willamette University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate79.1%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1339

Reading & Writing
630730
Math
590700

ACT Score Range

Composite
2732

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

79.1%

Trend

SAT Avg

1339

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$48,268
Room & Board$15,490
Books & Supplies$933
Total Cost of Attendance$62,112
Average Net Price$23,663
Median Debt at Graduation$21,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$228

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$14,603
$30–48K$14,977
$48–75K$16,425
$75–110K$24,618
$110K+$31,101

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

58.9%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$18,913

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

11

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

3

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (46)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

86%

Mixed
  • •86% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,525
Gender Split
61% / 39%
Women / Men
First Generation
19%
Pell Grant Recipients
22%

Race & Ethnicity

White 66%
Black 2%
Hispanic 14%
Asian 4%
Two+ 9%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate72.7%
Freshman Retention86.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$38,932
10 Years$56,911

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#72
↑1
vs 2024
Forbes
#213
↑2
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
↓1
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#45
↓1
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Bearcats

Varsity triathlonBasketballSoccerTriathlon program

History & Fun Facts

  • •Lee requested additional support for his mission, and received 53 additional volunteers in 1839, who arrived on the ship Lausanne.
  • •After a series of meetings in Lee's home, the by-laws were adopted and board of trustees elected and the institute was officially established on February 1, 1842.
  • •The Oregon Institute officially opened on August 13, 1844, with a total of five students and one teacher, Mrs.
  • •Lee served as the first President of the Board of Trustees, followed by David Leslie after Lee's death in 1845.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

PDX Portland OR50 mi
SEA Seattle-Tacoma177 mi
BOI Boise350 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2560 mi · ~73h 57m drive
New York, NY2463 mi · ~71h 9m drive
Hartford, CT2499 mi · ~72h 12m drive
Providence, RI2557 mi · ~73h 52m drive
Albany, NY2425 mi · ~70h 3m drive
Syracuse, NY2301 mi · ~66h 28m drive
Rochester, NY2229 mi · ~64h 24m drive
Buffalo, NY2175 mi · ~62h 50m drive
Philadelphia, PA2429 mi · ~70h 10m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2182 mi · ~63h 2m drive
Harrisburg, PA2337 mi · ~67h 31m drive
Newark, NJ2455 mi · ~70h 55m drive
Washington, DC2368 mi · ~68h 25m drive
Baltimore, MD2378 mi · ~68h 42m drive
Atlanta, GA2180 mi · ~62h 59m drive
Charlotte, NC2300 mi · ~66h 27m drive
Raleigh, NC2389 mi · ~69h 1m drive
Miami, FL2711 mi · ~78h 19m drive
Orlando, FL2533 mi · ~73h 11m drive
Tampa, FL2507 mi · ~72h 25m drive
Nashville, TN1979 mi · ~57h 10m drive
New Orleans, LA2063 mi · ~59h 36m drive
Richmond, VA2391 mi · ~69h 4m drive
Chicago, IL1775 mi · ~51h 17m drive
Detroit, MI1987 mi · ~57h 24m drive
Minneapolis, MN1447 mi · ~41h 48m drive
St. Louis, MO1734 mi · ~50h 6m drive
Kansas City, MO1506 mi · ~43h 30m drive
Indianapolis, IN1899 mi · ~54h 52m drive
Columbus, OH2048 mi · ~59h 10m drive
Cleveland, OH2072 mi · ~59h 51m drive
Milwaukee, WI1737 mi · ~50h 11m drive
Dallas, TX1632 mi · ~47h 9m drive
Houston, TX1831 mi · ~52h 54m drive
Austin, TX1704 mi · ~49h 14m drive
San Antonio, TX1712 mi · ~49h 27m drive
Los Angeles, CA794 mi · ~22h 56m drive
San Francisco, CA496 mi · ~14h 20m drive
San Diego, CA901 mi · ~26h 2m drive
Seattle, WA188 mi · ~5h 26m drive
Portland, OR44 mi · ~1h 16m drive
Denver, CO986 mi · ~28h 29m drive
Phoenix, AZ985 mi · ~28h 27m drive
Salt Lake City, UT633 mi · ~18h 17m drive
Honolulu, HI2560 mi · ~73h 57m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Portland OR (PDX)50 miles
Rental car
75 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
100 min$60-100
Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)177 miles
Rental car
266 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
354 min$212-354

Deadline Calendar

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Willamette University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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