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Colleges / Willamette University

Willamette University

Salem, OR 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate81%

Willamette University Admissions

It is very difficult to get into Willamette University. Around 81% of applicants get into Willamette University each year. Last year, 3,995 students applied to Willamette University and 3,220 were admitted.

If you are applying to Willamette University, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 6/1 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.

Students who submit their applications to Willamette University for fall should hear back from Willamette University by March 1.

Willamette University Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Willamette University's admissions stats.

Willamette University 2023 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 4.0
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 41%
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 21%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 9%
Waitlist Yes

Willamette University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Willamette University.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Yes November 15
Early Decision II
Early Action Yes November 15
Regular Decision Yes 6 1 March 1

Considering Applying Early to Willamette University?


Willamette University offers early decision and also offers early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 15

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 15.

The early decision acceptance rate at Willamette University is 77%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 81%.

Willamette University accepts roughly 87% of early action applicants and 81% all applicants for all deadlines. In 2022, Willamette University admitted 23 of the 30 students who applied early decision. Last year, Willamette University admitted 1,53 of the 1,735 who applied early action.

Some students apply to college early because they believe it will help their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it shows that you are very interested in a school.

➡️ Discover a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on Willamette University Admissions


Transferring to Willamette University

Transfer student admissions is very difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Willamette University

Willamette University has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Willamette University?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the admissions factors where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Willamette University

Curious about the factors that are considered by Willamette University during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Class Rank Very Important
Application Essay Very Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Interview Important
Recommendation(s) Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Character/Personal Qualities Considered
Extracurricular Activities Considered
Geographical Residence Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Standardized Test Scores Considered
Talent/Ability Considered
First Generation Considered

Make sure to check with Willamette University for more information on admission factors.

Willamette University 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Willamette University, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Willamette University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Interview
Letter(s) of Recommendation 1
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale) 2.0
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Willamette University?

Students admitted to Willamette University have an average unweighted GPA of 4.0.

Out of all students that were admitted, 36% submitted a class rank. At Willamette University 41% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 68% were in the top 25% and 94% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Willamette University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA 52.86%
3.75 and 3.99 18.9%
3.50 and 3.74 14.5%
3.25 and 3.49 9.16%
3.00 and 3.24 3.05%
2.50 and 2.9 1.53%
2.00 and 2.49

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Willamette University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Willamette University is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 21% of Willamette University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 9% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Willamette University?

To be competitive with other Willamette University applicants, you should strive to earn between 1240 and 1420 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Willamette University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1420 and 25% of scored lower than 1240, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Willamette University students scored 710 or higher and 75% of students scored 630 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Willamette University students scored 710 or higher, and 75% scored a 630 or higher.

To be most competitive at Willamette University, you should strive to earn between 27 and 33 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 33 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Willamette University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 33, and three out of four students scored lower than 33 on the ACT.

A 27 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Willamette University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 27.

More Information on Transferring to Willamette University

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to Willamette University.

Transfer students can enroll in Willamette University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term


Willamette University Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to Willamette University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Willamette University.

Does Willamette University accept transfer credits?

✅ Willamette University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Willamette University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Willamette University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Willamette University?

❌ No, Willamette University is test optional, so you can decide whether or not to include your test scores. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Willamette University's acceptance rate?

✅ Willamette University's acceptance rate is 81%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Willamette University?

✅ Willamette University's early decision acceptance rate was 77% in 2021.

What is the early action acceptance rate at Willamette University?

✅ The early action acceptance rate at Willamette University was 87% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Willamette University?

To learn more about Willamette University, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Connect with other students, parents, and admissions professionals to learn more about about Willamette University in the College Confidential forums

Explore other colleges in Oregon or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

Willamette University Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Very Selective

81%

How hard is it to get into Willamette University? Willamette University is a very selective institution. The Willamette University acceptance rate is 81%. This means that the institution accepts 80 out of every 100 applicants.

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Willamette University Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jun 1

Transfer Applications are Due

Not available

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Willamette University is Jun 1.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

Willamette University SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1240 - 1420

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Math SAT Range

600 - 710

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Reading SAT Range

630 - 710

Willamette University GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.96

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At Willamette University, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.96. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

1,883

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

81%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$48,226

Out-of-State

$48,226

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jun 1
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