Willamette University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Willamette is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 78%. Located in Salem, Oregon and founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the western U.S. Willamette's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned it a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Academics at Willamette are supported by a healthy 11-to-1 student / faculty ratio. The university prides itself on the number of hours its students devote to community service. In athletics, the Willamette Bears compete in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.

Considering applying to Willamette University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Willamette University had an acceptance rate of 78%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 78 students were admitted, making Willamette's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Willamette University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Willamette may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 73% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Willamette's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Willamette University scored between 580 and 680, while 25% scored below 580 and 25% scored above 680. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 560 and 660, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 660. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1340 or higher is competitive for Willamette University.

Requirements

Willamette University does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Willamette participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Willamette does not require the optional essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Willamette University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Willamette may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 34% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Willamette's admitted students fall within the top 26% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Willamette University received a composite ACT score between 24 and 30, while 25% scored above 30 and 25% scored below 24.

Requirements

Note that Willamette does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Willamette University participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Willamette does not require the optional ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of Willamette University's incoming freshmen class was 3.92, and over 70% of incoming students had average GPAs of 4.0. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Willamette University have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Willamette University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Willamette University, which accepts just over three-quarters of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool with above average grades and test scores. However, Willamette also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Willamette recommends interviews for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Willamette University's average range

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of successful applicants had high school GPAs above 3.0, combined SAT scores of 1150 or higher (ERW+M), and ACT composite scores of 24 or better. Many accepted students had solid "A" averages.

If You Like Willamette University, You May Also Like These Schools

• Whitman College
• University of Oregon
• Western Washington University
• University of Washington
• Seattle University
• Gonzaga University
• Santa Clara University
• University of the Pacific
• University of California - Davis
• Portland State University
• University of California - Santa Cruz

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Willamette University Undergraduate Admissions Office.