College statistics
- Address:
- 900 State St
Salem, OR
97301 - Sector Group:
- Private Not-for-Profit 4-Year or Above
- Official Website:
- www.willamette.edu/
- Setting:
- City
- Annual In-State Tuition:
- $50,880
- Annual Out-of-State Tuition:
- $50,880
- Room and Board:
- $16,270
- Acceptance Rate:
- 79.1%
- Endowment (End of Year):
- $313,019,000
- Research Activity Tier:
- No research designation
- Economic Mobility Index:
- Lower Access, Medium Earnings
- Primary Undergraduate Major:
- Social Sciences
Willamette is a private, not-for-profit liberal arts university located in downtown Salem. It's a tight-knit community built around undergraduate education, with a strong emphasis on close student-faculty relationships and hands-on learning. The school draws students from across the country who want a more personal college experience than they'd find at a large state university.
About 2,112 students attend Willamette, making it genuinely small. Tuition runs $48,268 per year, and with room and board, you're looking at a total cost of attendance around $67,501 annually—the same whether you're from Oregon or out of state. The school has a $48 million endowment, which is modest for a private college, so financial aid varies by student.
Willamette accepts about 79 out of every 100 applicants, so admission isn't highly selective, but that doesn't mean the school lacks rigor. About 73% of students graduate within six years. The school is best suited for students who know they want a smaller, more collaborative learning environment and who are motivated to take advantage of close advising and mentorship. If you're looking for a place where professors know your name and you can get involved in meaningful research or projects early on, Willamette's size is a real asset.