Willamette University
#75 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
Overview
Willamette University is a private institution that was founded in 1842. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,367 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 61 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Willamette University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #75. Its tuition and fees are $48,226.
Located in Oregon’s state capital, Salem, Willamette University carries the distinction of being the oldest university in the Western United States. The 69-acre campus is located directly across from the Oregon State Capitol and is less than an hour from Portland. All freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, unless they commute 25 miles or less to campus. As juniors and seniors, students can move into private residences or one of the university's apartment complexes. Once at the college, students can participate in more than 100 clubs and organizations, including a small, but bustling, Greek life.
Studying abroad is a very popular academic choice for many students at the university, and more than half of the student body studies abroad during college. Students interested in studying abroad have the luxury of choosing programs from more than 40 countries. The university also has a partnership with Tokyo International University, which allows students interested in Japanese language and culture the chance to interact with Japanese students. Willamette University's sustainability efforts have not gone unnoticed. The National Wildlife Federation has recognized the university as first in the nation among 1,050-plus schools for practicing the most sustainability activities, many of which are student-initiated efforts. Willamette is a founding member of the Northwest Conference in the NCAA Division III, and its teams are known as the Bearcats.
Along with being the oldest university in the West, the Willamette University College of Law is the oldest law school in the Pacific Northwest. Not to be outdone, Willamette's Atkinson Graduate School of Management is one of only two MBA programs in the world accredited for both business administration and public administration. The school's weekly newspaper, Willamette Collegian, began publishing in 1875 and has won several distinctions from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Notable alumni of the university include Dale T. Mortensen, the 2010 winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, and James Albaugh, former executive vice president of The Boeing Co.
Willamette University is a private institution that was founded in 1842. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,367 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 61 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Willamette University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #75. Its tuition and fees are $48,226.
Located in Oregon’s state capital, Salem, Willamette University carries the distinction of being the oldest university in the Western United States. The 69-acre campus is located directly across from the Oregon State Capitol and is less than an hour from Portland. All freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, unless they commute 25 miles or less to campus. As juniors and seniors, students can move into private residences or one of the university's apartment complexes. Once at the college, students can participate in more than 100 clubs and organizations, including a small, but bustling, Greek life.
Studying abroad is a very popular academic choice for many students at the university, and more than half of the student body studies abroad during college. Students interested in studying abroad have the luxury of choosing programs from more than 40 countries. The university also has a partnership with Tokyo International University, which allows students interested in Japanese language and culture the chance to interact with Japanese students. Willamette University's sustainability efforts have not gone unnoticed. The National Wildlife Federation has recognized the university as first in the nation among 1,050-plus schools for practicing the most sustainability activities, many of which are student-initiated efforts. Willamette is a founding member of the Northwest Conference in the NCAA Division III, and its teams are known as the Bearcats.
Along with being the oldest university in the West, the Willamette University College of Law is the oldest law school in the Pacific Northwest. Not to be outdone, Willamette's Atkinson Graduate School of Management is one of only two MBA programs in the world accredited for both business administration and public administration. The school's weekly newspaper, Willamette Collegian, began publishing in 1875 and has won several distinctions from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Notable alumni of the university include Dale T. Mortensen, the 2010 winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, and James Albaugh, former executive vice president of The Boeing Co.
+ Show More
At-a-Glance
Setting
N/A
Tuition & Fees
$48,226
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,367
Acceptance Rate
81%
2024 Rankings
Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.
My Fit Score
My Fit Custom College Ranking
Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now
Admissions
Cost
Tuition & Fees
$48,226
Room & Board
$15,380(2023-24)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
$39,481
$32,819
$32,819
Tuition & Fees
$48,226
Room & Board
$15,380(2023-24)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
$39,481
*Average cost after aid
Academics
68%
11:1
76%
Popular Majors
MAJOR
% OF GRADUATES
ALUMNI STARTING SALARY
Economics, General
10%
N/A
Psychology, General
8%
N/A
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
8%
N/A
Political Science and Government, General
6%
N/A
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
5%
N/A
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.
Pick the Perfect Major
Discover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.
Students
1,367
Graduate Enrollment
548
Total Enrollment
1,915
Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students
1,315
Student Diversity
Gender Distribution
Ethnic Diversity
32%
Minority Enrollment
32%
Minority Enrollment
67%
White
15%
Hispanic
8%
Two or more races
5%
Asian
2%
Black
2%
Unknown
1%
American Indian
1%
Pacific Islander
1%
International
Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.
Campus Life
Housing and Dorms
Types of campus housing available:
Student Activities
46+
Sports Teams
3
Fraternities
4
Sororities
After College
Graduation Rate
68%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
58%
Average Debt at Graduation
$28,722
$30,090
$30,090
Graduation Rate
68%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
58%
Average Debt at Graduation
$28,722
Schools You Might Also Like
Reviews & Ratings
See reviews and ratings of this school from students, alumni, staff and others. These reviews are not written by U.S. News and have no impact on any of the Best Colleges rankings. Read an explanation of user ratings.
Read More
Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.
More from This School
More from This School
My Fit Score
My Fit Custom College Ranking
Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now
You can compare up to 25 schools at a time. Please remove a school before adding another.