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Willamette University

Salem, Oregon · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$25,121What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
77%
Graduation rate
72%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,592
In-state tuition
$51,156Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$51,156
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$56,911Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$25,121

Better than 38% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

72%

Better than 79% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$56,911

Better than 59% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$21,500

Better than 74% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$67,501

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$25,121

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Willamette University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time72%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return87%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$21,500
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$56,911

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Willamette University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$80,0775
Economics$45,99349
Political Science and Government$35,16235
English Language and Literature, General$32,86317
Communication and Media Studies$31,47222
Psychology, General$29,67824
Sociology$29,31217
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$28,69718
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$27,04411
Biology, General$25,10031
History$22,5557
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported29
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported15
ChemistryNot reported13
Area StudiesNot reported13
Data ScienceNot reported11
Public HealthNot reported10
PhysicsNot reported10
MathematicsNot reported8
ArcheologyNot reported6
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported6
AnthropologyNot reported5
International/Globalization StudiesNot reported5
PhilosophyNot reported4
MusicNot reported4
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and AnalysisNot reported4
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported3
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported1
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported1
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported1
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Design and Applied ArtsNot reportedNot reported
Business Administration, Management and OperationsNot reportedNot reported
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reportedNot reported

All 40 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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