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Summary
Willamette University is a private institution that was founded in 1842. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,099, its setting is city, and the campus size is 61 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Willamette University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 63. Its tuition and fees are $40,774 (2012-13).
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, Ore. All freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, unless they commute 25 miles or less to campus, after which they 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 their college career. 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. The sustainable efforts of Willamette University have not gone unnoticed. The National Wildlife Federation recognized the university as first in the nation among 1,050-plus schools for practicing the most sustainable activities, many of which are student-initiated efforts. Known as the Bearcats, Willamette is a founding member of the Northwest Conference in the NCAA Division III.
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 M.B.A. programs in the world 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, executive vice president of The Boeing Company.
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Willamette University, a premier liberal arts university in the Pacific Northwest, challenges enterprising, high-achieving students through individualized experiences in and out of the classroom. Whether pursuing innovative research, interning with a business or nonprofit, working one-on-one with a professor, studying abroad or leading a campus organization, Willamette students gain real-world experience and hone their creativity, global perspective and critical thinking for a lifetime of success. Willamette's professors contribute a wide range of expertise to create a dynamic and collaborative learning environment for their students. They engage in scholarly research and publication, but they are also fundamentally committed to teaching and serving as mentors and advisors. Ten Willamette faculty members since 1990 have been named Oregon Professor of the Year for positively influencing the lives and careers of their students. With an average class size of 14 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, Willamette provides a personal classroom experience where professors get to know their students well and frequently involve them in research outside of class, both for independent activities and through Willamette research programs. Half of Willamette students study abroad, 25 percent perform joint research with faculty members and 70 percent complete one or more internships. In addition to 48 undergraduate academic programs, Willamette students may also choose a joint degree program, pairing their liberal arts education with a master's degree to stand out from the competition and get a jump start on their career. Willamette offers a joint bachelor of arts/master of business administration (BA/MBA), a BA/master of arts in teaching (BA/MAT) and a BA/juris doctor (BA/JD). Through all these opportunities, students learn how to analyze issues from a variety of perspectives and creatively address the challenges of the world, an idea that reflects the university motto, 'Not unto ourselves alone are we born.' The motto is also demonstrated outside the classroom. Willamette students are known for their enterprising nature, frequently launching new endeavors to improve campus and the community, and for engaging in social and political issues as well as service. Willamette was one of six colleges and universities in the country to earn the 2010 Presidential Award for exemplary service from the Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Students also find numerous ways to build lifelong friendships in addition to building their intellect, through 100+ student organizations, 20 varsity sports, many club and intramural teams and countless social activities on campus. Students get involved in Willamette's nationally recognized sustainability efforts, through opportunities such as Zena Forest, Willamette's 305-acre outdoor research station; and Zena Farm, a student-run organic farm that provides food for campus. Our alumni say their time at Willamette was life-changing, and they credit their education with providing them the expertise they needed for a successful career and life, whether they went on to a job, prestigious graduate program, national fellowship or public service. They frequently find careers at companies such as Nike, Intel and Microsoft, and many enter top-notch graduate programs across the country or join prestigious service programs such as Peace Corps and Teach for America. Our students and graduates often earn competitive, national awards like the Fulbright Grant that provide money for research or graduate school. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1842 |
| Religious affiliation | United Methodist |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | city |
| 2011 Endowment | $231,777,000 |
Applying
When applying to Willamette University, it's important to note the application deadline is February 1, and the early action deadline is December 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Willamette University is $50. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 57.3 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 57.3% |
| Application deadline | February 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Willamette University is 10:1, and the school has 67.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Willamette University include: Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics; History; and Psychology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 88.0 percent.
Student Life
Willamette University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,099, with a gender distribution of 43.2 percent male students and 56.8 percent female students. At this school, 71.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 29.0 percent of students live off campus. Willamette University is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 2,968 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Willamette University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, health service, and health insurance. Willamette University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Willamette University, 42 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Willamette University.
| Students who have cars on campus | 42% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Willamette University, 64.7 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $25,987.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $40,774 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $9,820 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
