Willamette University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Salem, Oregon. It enrolls 1,592 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value31
Affordability28
Selectivity68
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.1%, Willamette University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1240 – 1440
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Willamette University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Willamette University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $25,121 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$25,121
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$51,156
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,150
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,150
Books & Supplies
$1,222
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,912
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,912
Total Cost of Attendance
$67,501
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,182
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,825
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,225
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,382
Over $110,000
$33,794
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,00025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$29,25075%percentile
$37,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $2,000
No Pell $18,458
↓ $3,042
Dependent students $19,000
↓ $2,500
Independent students $11,000
↓ $10,500
Female students $19,066
↓ $2,434
Male students $18,500
↓ $3,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,277, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
66% of full-time students who enrolled at Willamette University graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
66%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Willamette University earn a median of $56,911 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,911
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$52,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$56,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$59,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,700, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Willamette University is home to 1,592 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,592
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
19%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 65.0%1,035
Hispanic 14.9%237
Other 9.7%155
Asian 3.9%62
Black 2.5%39
International 1.6%26
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Willamette University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CitySalem, Oregon
Housing
Strongly residential1,295 beds for 1,592 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Willamette University offers
a varied set of programs:
36 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Willamette University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$375M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$98,227
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
175 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
79
45%
$111,930
Associate Professors
44
25%
$94,914
Assistant Professors
30
17%
$99,331
Instructors
22
13%
$54,140
Pros & Cons of Willamette University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Willamette University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Willamette University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Willamette University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Willamette University.
Is Willamette University hard to get into?
Willamette University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Willamette University?
Willamette University has an acceptance rate of 77.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Willamette University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Willamette University scored between 1240 and 1440 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Willamette University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Willamette University scored between 28 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Willamette University cost?
The average net price after aid at Willamette University is $25,121 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Willamette University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,911 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $25,121 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Willamette University known for?
Willamette University is best known for its programs in Law, Business Administration, Economics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Willamette University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Willamette University are $56,911, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Willamette University accredited?
Yes. Willamette University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Willamette University?
Willamette University enrolls 1,592 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Willamette University?
Willamette University graduates 66% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Willamette University a public or private college?
Willamette University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Willamette University located?
Willamette University is located in Salem, Oregon.
What programs does Willamette University offer?
Willamette University offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Law, Business Administration, Economics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Willamette University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Willamette University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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