Willamette University
Willamette University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Willamette University Featured Rankings
About Willamette University
According to Wikipedia, Willamette University is a private liberal arts college with locations in Salem and Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest college in the Western United States. Originally named the Oregon Institute, the school was an unaffiliated outgrowth of the Methodist Mission. The name was changed to Wallamet University in 1852, followed by the current spelling in 1870. Willamette founded the first medical school and law school in the Pacific Northwest in the second half of the 19th century.
Willamette University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,107 | 77% | 87% | 71% | 1340 | 30 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Willamette University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $54,224 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $21,139 |
| 30K - 48K | $15,801 |
| 48K - 75K | $19,597 |
| 75K - 110K | $23,962 |
| 110K+ | $34,914 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Willamette University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Willamette University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $62,275 a year, and 89% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Willamette University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 2,245 | 1,635 | 610 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Willamette University?
Willamette University is located at 900 State St, Salem, OR 97301.
How Safe is Willamette University?
Relative to its enrollment, Willamette University has a violent crime rate of 0.05% and a property crime rate of 0.60%. Salem has a violent crime rate of 0.54% and a property crime rate of 2.88%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Willamette University Known For?
Willamette University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Economics
- Law
- Political Science
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Medical
- History
- Communications
- Physics
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Religious Studies
- Psychology
- Mathematics
Willamette University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Willamette University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Willamette University ranks #130 in the U.S. and #546 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesWillamette University ranks #185 in the U.S. and #574 worldwide for influence in Law.
Willamette University ranks #243 in the U.S. and #971 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesWillamette University ranks #284 in the U.S. and #891 worldwide for influence in Anthropology.
anthropology DegreesWillamette University ranks #311 in the U.S. and #1259 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesWillamette University ranks #331 in the U.S. and #1720 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesWillamette University ranks #357 in the U.S. and #1182 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesWillamette University ranks #371 in the U.S. and #1121 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesWillamette University ranks #373 in the U.S. and #1330 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesWillamette University ranks #381 in the U.S. and #1071 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesWillamette University ranks #382 in the U.S. and #1421 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesWillamette University ranks #402 in the U.S. and #1820 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesWillamette University ranks #430 in the U.S. and #1499 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesWillamette University ranks #470 in the U.S. and #2205 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesWillamette University ranks #495 in the U.S. and #2185 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesWillamette University ranks #503 in the U.S. and #1292 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesWillamette University ranks #634 in the U.S. and #2614 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesWho Are Willamette University's Most Influential Alumni?
Willamette University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Economics, Law, and Anthropology. Here are some of Willamette University's most famous alumni:
- Dale T. Mortensen
- An American economist .
- Gerald Pearson
- An American physicist.
- James Cuno
- An American museum director & art historian.
- Mark Hatfield
- An American politician, governor of Oregon and U. S. Senator .
- Charles L. McNary
- An American politician.
- Lisa Murkowski
- An American lawyer and politician .
- William S. Laughlin
- An American anthropologist.
- Peter K. Manning
- An American academic.
- Harry Stone Mosher
- An American chemist .
- Al Siebert
- An American writer.
- Randall B. Kester
- An American judge.
- Charles E. Wicks
- An American chemical engineer .
Who Are Willamette University's Most Influential Faculty?
Willamette University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Economics, Law, and Anthropology. Here are some of Willamette University's most famous faculty:
