CKQ College Profiles: Willamette University

Each quarter, The College Knowledge Quarterly features a different U.S. College or University for families to get to know a bit better. The aim is not to tell you about a school you know (or at least you think you know) well, but to introduce you to a school you may not have considered a viable candidate before. In this edition, we are pleased to feature another west-coast school with a lot to offer, Willamette University (Salem, OR).

Willamette University (U.S. News ranked T-#72 – Best Liberal Arts Colleges, Forbes Top Colleges - #213) is a small school (approximately 1,500 undergraduate students) in a small city in an urban environment, about an hour’s drive south of Portland, Oregon.

One of the hallmarks of a strong liberal arts college is the notion that critical thinking is put to the test. Students are meant to be exposed to a non-specific education and figure out the meaning between all of the disciplines. We also find liberal arts colleges possess professors that are more focused on the students and their learning than they are about their own discipline and their own research. Each of these statements not only apply to Willamette but define who the school is and what they represent.

A unique characteristic of Willamette is the University Forest at Zena, a 300-acre forest with five acres of farmland that lies twenty minutes from the main campus. Zena is used for outdoor classroom and learning space, particularly in the disciplines of art, biology, English, history, politics and theater. As many as 400 students a year share this space. This space allows professors to be more expressive and willing to experiment, and it allows students to test their ideas. The students who live here tend to the facilities, build items used to maintain life there, maintain the organic gardens and even sell the produce at a school farmer’s market. It’s the kind of place where students aren’t learning about research, they are doing it.

Speaking of research, Willamette University funds several dozen student-faculty research collaborations over the summer. Professors post their ongoing research work earmarked for the summer and students apply to join their programs. In the fall, students present their findings at a schoolwide research symposium. These students attend undergraduate research conferences, and in some instances, publish their works.

Professors at Willamette at generous with their time and are dedicated to their students. Part of the community development that stems from student/professor interaction also lends itself to the sense of community that runs deep at Willamette; community service is held in high regard by many students.

Students see themselves as tolerant, liberal, diverse, involved, and compassionate. Willamette is an active community, both in terms of intramural athletics and the outdoor program, which boasts weekly trips for hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing, and so much more, through the vast Pacific Northwest.

Not surprisingly, a population and a school such as Willamette is interested in sustainability. The students consider it an important political issue and the school has taken great strides to reduce its carbon footprint, building LEED-certified buildings and having a robust recycling program.

Speaking of being political, the campus is located in Salem, the capital city of Oregon, allowing for a great deal of political activism and participation; many Willamette students intern for elected officials and become a part of the state’s political process.

While the overall campus community is more white and female than the school (or the students) would probably like, they still have enough diversity to make it an interesting place to live and learn. Over 70% of the students come from beyond Oregon’s borders, which adds its own layer of diversity to the campus.

The school is not a well-known commodity outside of Oregon, which contributes to its high admission percentage (78%), despite its academic value and solid rankings. The most popular majors almost all lie within the realm of social sciences, with another 15% housed in the physical or life sciences.

The cost of doing business at Willamette University is on the high side ($68,500 COA as of 2020) and probably helps explain some of the high admission percentage. The school does meets, on average, 76% of a family’s demonstrated financial need, and of that amount, 84% (on average) is paid via scholarships and grants, which is solid.

The average admitted student boasts strong grades and extremely strong test scores (about a 3.9 weighted GPA and a 33 on the ACT). According to the admission office, rigor of high school curriculum, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores, and application essay are most important in the admission decision, followed by letters of recommendation and in interview.

The school offers a total of 45 undergraduate majors, along with a bevy of 3+1, 3+2, and 3+3 options for dual degree programs, has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11-1, and operates on the semester system.

Willamette University offers an Early Decision (ED) application deadline of November 15th, an Early Action (EA) application deadline of November 15th, and a regular decision deadline of January 15th.The school accepts the Common Application for freshman admission.