Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Willamette University is a private liberal arts college located in Salem, Oregon. Willamette University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Willamette University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $57,036 10 years after enrolling, 4th in Oregon, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Willamette University bachelor students earn 9% less than the national average. Willamette University is ranked 14th in Oregon.
Willamette University’s median net annual cost of $34,294 and average years to graduate of 4.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Willamette University sorted by number of graduates - Economics, Biology, Poli Sci/Government, Natural Resource Conservation, Psychology, English Language & Lit - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$34,294
Average years to graduate
4.3
Computer Science
Rank: #247
Economic score: 3.85
Mathematics
Rank: #267
Economic score: 9.6
Chemistry
Rank: #171
Economic score: 10.03
Anthropology
Rank: #94
Economic score: 15.65
Romance Language & Linguistics
Rank: #152
Economic score: 19.49
Health & Fitness
Rank: #422
Economic score: 94.36
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #499
Economic score: 224.38
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 1 graduate programs at Willamette University - Business Administration - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.3 years. 69% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Willamette University is 3% higher than the state average, and 1% above the average for all liberal arts colleges in the country.
At Willamette University, Pell Grant recipients represent 26% of the measured graduating class, 9% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Willamette University graduates within 4.3 years.
Willamette University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Willamette University’s economic mobility score of 14.42 is calculated by adjusting the 3.29 economic score of lower-income students by the 26% pell grant recipients within the student body. Willamette University’s EMS of 14.42 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Willamette University pays $34,294 a year, $35,304 less than the $69,598 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $34,294
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Willamette University, 99% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $34,294 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 51% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,375. This is 3% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,145
Pell grants
$4,926
State grants
$3,465
Institutional grants
$27,404
Willamette University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 80% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 3,680 applicants, of which 2,930 were admitted and 260 enrolled. Willamette University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
While Willamette University has a recommended testing policy, their average test scores are not made public.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
92%
59%
In-state
32%
68%
1st generation
19%
35%
White
62%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
16%
15%
Asian
6%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
13%
12%