Willamette University
Salem, OR · Private
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See the full analysis — freeAdmission rate
Willamette University admitted 77.1% of applicants university-wide (2,954 of 3,832).
| Cohort | Admit rate | Admitted | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University-wide | 77.1% | 2,954 | 3,832 |
| In-state | 80.0% | 800 | 1,000 |
| Out-of-state | 80.0% | 1,600 | 2,000 |
| International applicants | 80.0% | 400 | 500 |
| Men | 72.3% | 1,130 | 1,563 |
| Women | 80.5% | 1,799 | 2,235 |
Also offers Early Action (closes Nov 15) — the Common Data Set doesn't publish EA admit counts.
Of 2,954 admitted students, 421 enrolled (14.3% yield).
Willamette University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C1–C2 · 2023 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.
Test scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 1240–1440
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 28–33
- GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
- 3.25–3.99
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Willamette University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C9–C12 · 2023 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $70,376/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $49,006 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $21,372 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $70,376/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $16,182 |
| $30k–48k | $16,825 |
| $48k–75k | $18,225 |
| $75k–110k | $22,382 |
| Over $110k | $33,794 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- Presidential Scholarship — Up to $20,000 per year (Presidential)
- Dean's Scholarship — Up to $15,000 per year (Merit)
- Faculty Scholarship — Up to $10,000 per year (Merit)
- National Merit Scholarship (Willamette University) — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
- Willamette Grant — Varies (Need Based)
International applicants
Some aid available for internationals.
- International Student Scholarship — Up to $25,000 per year (International Aid)
- Willamette International Scholarship — $15,000-$25,000 per year (International Aid)
- Presidential Scholarship — Up to $20,000 per year (Presidential)
- Dean's Scholarship — Up to $15,000 per year (Merit)
- Faculty Scholarship — Up to $10,000 per year (Merit)
- International Student Grant — Varies (Need Based)
Willamette University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections G–H · 2023
Application requirements
US applicants
- Application (Common App or Coalition)
- Official High School Transcript
- School Report and Counselor Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) (optional)
- Teacher Evaluation (optional)
- Admissions Interview (recommended)
- College Coursework Transcripts (optional)
- Schoolhouse Certifications (optional)
International applicants
- Application (Common App or Coalition)
- Official High School Transcript
- School Report and Counselor Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) (optional)
- Teacher Evaluation (optional)
- Admissions Interview (recommended)
- College Coursework Transcripts (optional)
- Schoolhouse Certifications (optional)
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
Willamette University · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025
Essay prompts
The Common App personal essay is required (one of 7 shared prompts).
Draft these in the free Essay Coach
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 4, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $56,911
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 71.2%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 87%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $21,500
- At graduation
Willamette University · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Published rankings
- U.S. News Liberal Arts: #76
- Forbes: #340
- Niche: #583
Deadlines
- 2026-11-15Early Action — Non-binding early round
- 2026-11-15Early Decision — Binding early round
Willamette University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C21–C22 · 2023
Academics and campus
Largest degree fields: Social sciences (22%), Interdisciplinary studies (10%), Natural resources & conservation (8%).
Student–faculty ratio: 10:1 · 56% of class sections have under 20 students.
Willamette University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections E, F, I · 2023 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.