Willamette University

Salem, OR
900 State St, Salem, OR 97301
503-370-6300

Willamette University is a private university in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the state and the first university established west of the Rocky Mountains. The university is a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. The university's motto is "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory."

Willamette has an undergraduate student body of approximately 2,000 students. The university offers bachelor's degrees in over 30 majors and is organized into four colleges: the College of Liberal Arts, the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, the College of Education, and the College of Law. The university also has a School of Music and a School of the Arts.

Willamette University was founded in 1842 by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The university's original mission was to "provide an education for the young men of the West in the liberal arts and sciences." The university was named after the Willamette River, which runs through Salem. The first class of students graduated in 1846.

In 1853, the university became the first in the West to grant a woman a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1867, the university began admitting women on an equal basis with men.

Willamette University is located in Salem, Oregon, a city of approximately 170,000 people. Salem is the state capital and is located in the Willamette Valley, which is known for its fertile farmland and its mild climate.

Willamette University is a comprehensive university with a strong commitment to the liberal arts. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

The university's faculty is committed to teaching and research. Willamette University is home to the Oregon State Archives and the Oregon Historical Society. The university is also a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.



Quick Facts

Enrollment: 1866

Acceptance Rate: 80.17%

Type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

Main Website: https://www.willamette.edu/

Financial Aid: https://www.willamette.edu/offices/finaid/

Annual Costs

Total Cost In-State On-Campus: $69598

Total Cost Out-State On-Campus: $69598

Return on Investment Rating

rating stars

The estimated cost for four years as an undergraduate at Willamette University is $256252.99. This includes the average cost of attendance for four years plus the interest on the average loan over a ten year repayment minus the average of grants and scholarships per student.

We then contrast this figure with average early-career and mid-career average incomes of graduates of four year programs at Willamette University. For graduates of Willamette University, we saw an average early-career income of $55600.00 and mid-career income of $116100.00. We then ranked the school's value based on how many years of mid-career income it takes to repay the educational costs.