Willamette University

Willamette University Overview

Willamette University is a private, religious school in an urban setting in Salem, Oregon. Willamette University was founded in 1842 and now enrolls around 1,865 students a year, including 1,303 undergrads. Willamette University offers housing for up to 1,300 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Willamette University! Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Willamette University's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Willamette University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? Willamette University has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Willamette University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Willamette University on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Willamette University on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! January 15, 2022 is the final deadline to submit an application for Fall. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should receive admissions decisions by May 1.

Is Willamette University a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a look at to get a better sense of what Willamette University offers and if it might be a good choice for you.

Willamette University Acceptance Rate 2021

It is very difficult to get into Willamette University. Willamette University admitted 78% of all applicants in 2021. Out of 3,972 applications received in 2021, 3,095 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Willamette University

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 82% of students who start at Willamette University come back for their second year of college.Around 74% of students who started at Willamette University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for Willamette University Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Check with Willamette University directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Willamette University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2021, the total market value of the school endowment was $255.4 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Willamette University spends about $15,728 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Willamette University

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Willamette University meets 67.2% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Willamette University full-time are awarded $39,569 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2021 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $29,009 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Willamette University. Based on this information, how does Willamette University sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is Willamette University a good school for you?

If Willamette University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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To learn more about Willamette University, choose from the options below:

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Where is Willamette University Located?

Willamette University is located in the urban setting of Salem, Oregon, less than an hour from Portland.

If you want to see Willamette University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 5 to Salem, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Portland International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Willamette University and Salem are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges in Oregon?

See a full list of colleges in Oregon and save your favorites to your college list.