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AccessibleProfile current for 2026-2027

Willamette University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 77%, Willamette University is an accessible private college in Oregon. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Your odds at Willamette University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Willamette University weighs, where it ranks among Oregon schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1300, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
77%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
1240-1440
of admitted students
Type
Private
Salem, OR
Average net price
$25,121
per year after aid

What do students study at Willamette University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Social Sciences · 70 (23.7%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 33 (11.2%)Physical Sciences · 19 (6.4%)Natural Resources and Conservation · 18 (6.1%)Psychology · 18 (6.1%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 17 (5.8%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 15 (5.1%)Visual and Performing Arts · 14 (4.7%)Computer and Information Sciences · 13 (4.4%)Business, Management and Marketing · 12 (4.1%)Communication and Journalism · 11 (3.7%)English Language and Literature · 11 (3.7%)

Will I get into Willamette University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Willamette University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Willamette University?

Willamette University admits most qualified applicants (around 77%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Willamette University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Willamette University hard to get into?

Willamette University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 77% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Willamette University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Willamette University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Willamette University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Willamette University →

Your chances at Willamette University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Willamette University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Willamette University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1340 SAT?

About 97% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1340 SAT, the middle of Willamette University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1440 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Willamette University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 124025th pctSAT 1340middleSAT 144075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.556%Likely75%Safety81%Safety43%Target
2.882%Safety91%Safety94%Safety79%Safety
3.194%Safety97%Safety98%Safety94%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/willamette-university.

How to get into Willamette University

Built from Willamette University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Here is how to get into Willamette University, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Willamette University carries about a 3.15 core GPA and a 1390 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1240 to 1440 SAT (28 to 33 ACT). Submit a score at 1340 or higher; below 1240, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Willamette University weighs

Willamette University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: essays that sound like you and answer the actual prompt, and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Willamette University's exact dates at www.willamette.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Willamette University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.willamette.edu ↗

How many students apply to Willamette University, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Willamette University received 4,107 applications and admitted 3,249, an acceptance rate of 79.1%. 504 enrolled. Only about 16% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Willamette University enrolls about 1,592 undergraduates in total, 62% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Applied
4,107
fall 2023
Admitted
3,249
79.1% of applicants
Enrolled
504
16% yield
Undergraduates
1,592
Salem, midsize city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Willamette University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Willamette University scored between 1240 and 1440 on the SAT (average 1377). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 28 to 33. A score above 1440 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1240 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Willamette University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1240-1440
average 1377
ACT middle 50%
28-33
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Willamette University looks for

What Willamette University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Willamette University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Willamette University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Willamette University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Willamette University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1300 SAT →Colleges for a 28 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Willamette University cost after financial aid?

Willamette University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $67,501 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $51,156. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,121 a year, and it ranges from $16,182 for families earning under $30,000 to $33,794 for families earning over $110,000. 24% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$67,501
per year, before aid
Average net price
$25,121
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
24%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$16,182
$30k to $48k$16,825
$48k to $75k$18,225
$75k to $110k$22,382
Over $110k$33,794

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Willamette University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Willamette University student who received federal aid earns $56,911 a year, up from $38,932 at six years. 71% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 87% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,500; 39% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$56,911
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
71%
within six years
Retention
87%
return for year two
Median debt
$21,500
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Willamette University compares in Oregon

Willamette University ranks #4 most selective of 15 schools in Oregon in our database.

Among the 15 Oregon schools we track, Willamette University ranks #4 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Bushnell University (67%) and Warner Pacific University (71%) sit nearby, which makes Oregon a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Bushnell University
67%acceptance · OR
Warner Pacific University
71%acceptance · OR
Oregon State University
77%acceptance · OR
Lewis & Clark College
78%acceptance · OR
Linfield University
85%acceptance · OR
University of Oregon
88%acceptance · OR
University of Portland
89%acceptance · OR
Southern Oregon University
89%acceptance · OR
See all Oregon schools →

Similar to Willamette University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Willamette University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Bradley University, Gardner-Webb University, and Seattle University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Bradley University
77%acceptance · IL
Gardner-Webb University
77%acceptance · NC
Seattle University
77%acceptance · WA
Barry University
77%acceptance · FL
Clarkson University
77%acceptance · NY
DeSales University
77%acceptance · PA

Frequently asked questions

What is Willamette University's acceptance rate?

Willamette University admitted 3,249 of 4,107 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 79.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 16% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Willamette University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1240 to 1440 on the SAT and 28 to 33 on the ACT. A score above 1440 is in the top quarter of admits. Willamette University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Willamette University test-optional?

Yes. Willamette University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Willamette University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Willamette University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $25,121 a year against a sticker price of about $67,501. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $16,182 on average.

What do Willamette University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Willamette University are $56,911 a year among students who received federal aid, and 71% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Willamette University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Willamette University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Willamette University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Willamette University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Willamette University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Willamette University specifically.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.