About Willamette University

Founded in 1842, Willamette University. is a Private college. Located in Oregon, which is a city setting in Oregon, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 1,997 full time undergraduate students, and 559 full time graduate students.

The Willamette University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 217 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Willamette University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate78%
Application Deadline
Application Fee50
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at are considered Less Selective, with ,25% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 8 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

92% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 66% were in the top quarter, and 38% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Willamette University.

0%
“We”re apathetic”
0%
“We know about current events and vote”
66%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
34%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
13%
“Sometimes, but not often”
69%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
13%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
42%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
58%
“I feel extremely safe”
21%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
16%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
9%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
56%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
31%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
3%
“Available in class”
42%
“They keep regular office hours”
55%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
59%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
34%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
31%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
63%
“We only party on weekends”
6%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
6%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
56%
“There might be people who do”
34%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
0%
“We know about current events and vote”
66%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
34%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
13%
“Sometimes, but not often”
69%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
13%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
42%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
58%
“I feel extremely safe”
21%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
16%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
9%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
56%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
31%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
3%
“Available in class”
42%
“They keep regular office hours”
55%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
59%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
34%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
31%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
63%
“We only party on weekends”
6%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
6%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
56%
“There might be people who do”
34%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship

  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    69 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 12 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    48 Students rated off-campus housing 3.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    70 Students rated campus food 3.6 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    71 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    71 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 76 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    71 Students rated school activities 4 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    71 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    71 Students rated academics 3.7 stars. 31 % gave the school a 5.0.

Willamette University REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of Willamette University?

22 Students rated Willamette University

Ali - 01/30/2020

My opinion is not so favorable. From my experience, Willamette is a small minded racist, Islamophobic university with serious bigotry and bullying. While many Anglos on campus are bigoted, they’re only half of the problem. A lot of the bigoted feminist culture is very pervasive and many of these feminists are racist, Xenophobic and Islamophobic .The Asian community only favors East and South East Asians, and Asians from Western or Southern Asia are often discriminated against especially of they’re Muslim. Many African American and East African students , including the then President of the Black Student Union as well as her successor, are also blatantly Anti Arab and Islamophobic. The administration doesn’t care about Arabs on campus. At Willamette, Arabs especially Lebanese and Syrians don’t have our voices heard and are labeled as white, when we’re clearly from West Asia.. Both Chaplains are Zionist normalizer and push a hardcore Zionist agenda. There’s no Islamic scholar on campus to mentor Muslim Students. Professors at Willamette disrespect Islam very frequently and the only class covering Palestine, which is taught by an Anglo Protestant from Arkansas normalizes the Zionist entity, pushes a Liberal Zionist agenda, and whitewashes the crimes of settlers. Willamette loves hosting imperialist, Zionist, Russophobic, Islamophobic, Anti Shi’a, Anti Arab and Anti Iranian guest speakers including conspiracy theorists Masha Gessen, Amal Kasser (an FSA supporter) and Julia Ioffe. Willamette likes to vilify people who are vehemently anti Imperialist, especially if they’re Muslim from Western, Southern and Central Asia. Willamette also promotes Haram MCs and almost had rapper Cupcakke who does inappropriate, Haram acts in her videos to perform at the WUlapalooza concert while banning Anti Imperialist rappers like me from performing at the #WillametteSoWhite concert because I exposed the events organizer , the then Black Student Union President as an Anti Arab racist and a Christian Zionist despite the fact that I’m a religious, cultural and ethnic minority. (So much for pluralism). I would avoid Willamette like the plague.

Isabel - 01/23/2019

The small campus allows for close friendships and deeper involvement across campus as well as participating in protests at City hall across the streets. There is some pressure to be heavily involved in both clubs and classes but it only serves to widen worldviews and give exposure to new opinions. The Willamette culture can be stressful but the support system available is incredible from classmates to faculty.

Elyssa - 09/17/2018

It's nice because it is small. An enjoyable community. Everyone knows everyone or will eventually get to know the other students. Most professors seem to actually care about their students rather than just shrug them off or toward a TA. So far, I like the academic rigor and the friendliness everyone on campus has toward one another.

Robert - 04/03/2018

Not a bad university, however, there is a massive discrepancy between the tuition and the value. With a sticker price of over $200,000 for a four-year undergraduate degree, you would think they would provide an excellent education with plenty of opportunities for advancing their students' future careers. Unfortunately, that is not the case. As a music major, I see that the several pianos on campus are not regularly maintained, mostly due to budgetary reasons, which then begs the question: If the tuition is over $50,000 per year, how can we not afford to have the instruments simply tuned. Unfortunately, the budget is controlled not by members of the music department, but by the administrators for the college of liberal arts, which appear to not understand the needs of the music department. So to summarize, it's not a bad education, however, I don't think it brings a solid return on a $200,000 investment.

Willamette University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Willamette University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Willamette University is 78%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    If I could go back in time the first thing I would tell myself to do is to branch out. I think being part of a college campus is a huge step and going around and getting to know people is so much fun. Another thing would be to be more independent. Its great to have your friends, but being able to get out and be a leader and stand up for yourself is something to be proud of. I would also tell myself to be more involved. If i had really thought about where I was going in life I would do more. I am doing things on campus and in the community now and I love it! Get used to talking to teachers and being ready with questions you may have is another tip. Most of all just have fun with what you do because you will get where you are going with whatever route you take, and do things with a smile :)

    Read all 66 answers

  3. Describe the students at your school.

    fun, friendly, always willing to share

    Read all 23 answers

  4. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    The dating scene. Oh boy. Let's just say Willamette sucks when it comes to dating. Since it is such a small campus it is hard to find guys that you are attracted to, especially since the classes every year seem to get filled with more and more females. Then again there's the whole thing where the "good" men on campus, of course, have girlfriends. Whatever.

    Read all 18 answers

  5. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    It is awesome.

    Read all 17 answers

  6. What are the academics like at your school?

    Great.

    Read all 16 answers

  7. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Willamette is a small liberal arts university where the professors and the administration put the success of the student first. It's size is both a curse and a blessing as it keeps the class size small, allowing for student discussion and participation, but can also feel too small. However, Willamette has every kind of extracurricular activity that a larger school has, and you will find friends for life.

    Read all 15 answers

  8. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Rigorous academics

    Read all 15 answers

  9. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The small size of our school makes four years heere really difficult to find new minds or talent. We do have avery talented body, but we all tend to do two or more activities because in order for them to run we need to do them. Everyone seems to know everyone's business. I'm not sure where they would expand, but with a bit more expansion, I believe they'd be able to keep the integrity of the school intact. It is sometimes difficult to compete with other schools when we have such a small pool to draw from.

    Read all 14 answers

  10. What's unique about your campus?

    definately the people. professors and students alike are engaged and proactive.

    Read all 13 answers

  11. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    Rich entitled kids. It is partially true, but not for everyone.

    Read all 13 answers

  12. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    I feel like the staffs ar very unique at Willamette. You have staffs that really care about the students at this university and will do whatever they can to support students.

    Read all 12 answers

  13. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had know just what it means to go to such a small school. If you do something good, everyone knows. And if you do something bad--everyone knows. Its's a little claustrophobic at times.

    Read all 12 answers

  14. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    One looking to just attend classes. There is a lot going on here, and many interesting people, so if you like just your tight-knit group of friends, you would be missing out on the Willamette experience. A person can't depend on others to tell them what to do here or what help to receive- the resources are here, but no one is holding the student's hand.

    Read all 11 answers

  15. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    When I brag about my school, I tell them what wonderful professors I have and the wonderful people I have met. I have some fabulous friends especially my roommate. I have learned a lot not only from my professors but my classmates who can sometimes surprise me and give such insightful comments. Also, the campus is gorgeous and can be so inspiring when it rains or shines.

    Read all 11 answers

  16. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The lack of diversity-- everyone's white!

    Read all 8 answers

  17. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Anyone interested in pursuing a strong liberal arts education will be pleased at Willamette U. While other schools may advocate specialized study, students at Willamette graduate with a diverse toolbelt of knowledge and social awareness Also, Willamette is the place for students willing to take responsibility and drive their academic eperience. Personal motivaton is imperative for a student to take full advantage of the resources Willamette offers. Despite the daily stressors, people on campus are generally friendly, happy people involved in an array of activites and interests. If you wish to nuture your numerous curiousities, Willamette is for you.

    Read all 8 answers

  18. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Willamette Student tend to be very liberal, and there are a lot of new age hippies, because there is a strong focus on sustainability.

    Read all 7 answers

  19. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Not really, everyone at our school has a unique identity and is recognized as being unique. There is a lot of environmentalist-type activity from the student body and faculty alike, but that doesn't mean we're all hippies

    Read all 7 answers

  20. What are your classes like?

    My classes very much reflect a liberal arts education. This semester I'm taking Latin Prose, Ancient Middle East History, Close Reading and International Politics. My classes are diverse and mostly discussion based. This makes them very engaging and I feel more invested when I know that I am a part of a class, not merely a person in the classroom.

    Read all 2 answers

  21. How often should I phone home? Is once a day too much?

    Not at all. I'm sure your parents would love to hear your voice as often as possible. I call my parents every night. So does my roommate. Other folks call their family once a week or two. It really is up to you, but try to keep in touch with your family as much as possible. It'll make the process easier for them.

    Read all 2 answers

Student Body

Students

56%

female

44%

male

1,997

Total Undergrad Enrollment

559

Total Grad Students

78%

Out-Of-State

21%

In-State

1%

International

Organizations

105

Student Organizations

4

Fraternities

3

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

49%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
8%
% Black or African-American
2%
% Hispanic/Latino
13%
% White or Caucasian
58%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

99% of students attending Willamette University receive some sort of financial aid. 25% were awarded federal grants. While 56% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$47,217

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$950

Books and Supplies

$11,600

Room and Board

59,767

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$23,068
$30 - $48K
$23,082
$48 - $75K
$25,609
$75 - $110K
$29,655
$110K & UP
$36,459

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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