Liberal Arts · Salem, OR
Willamette University
Calculate your Willamette oddsQuick Facts
| Acceptance rate | — |
| Type | Private · Liberal Arts |
| Setting | Campus setting |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
Willamette University is among the most selective institutions in the country. The application is read holistically. Test scores and GPA establish baseline academic credibility but rarely drive the final decision. The rest of the application (activities, recommendations, and especially essays) reveals who you are and what you would add to the community.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at Willamette?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorBeyond the Numbers
Willamette is best known for being the oldest college in the West, strong politics and economics programs, and a Salem, Oregon campus. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
Willamette essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise Willamette essays with tools tuned to Willamette's prompts.
Willamette vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Liberal Arts schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette This page | — | — | — |
| Amherst | 9.0% | 1490–1580 | $23,367 |
| Williams | 8.3% | 1490–1570 | $17,716 |
| Pomona | 7.1% | 1490–1560 | $19,285 |
| Swarthmore | 7.5% | 1490–1560 | $23,149 |
| Bowdoin | 7.1% | 1470–1550 | $14,398 |
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with Willamette's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- Willamette Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect Willamette's most recent publicly published admit cycle.