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Seattle U Lewis and Clark UW-Seattle PLU George Fox University University of Puget Sound Whitworth University Whitman College Western Washington University Central Washington University Azusa Pacific University Washington State| Willamette University | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
| Location | Salem, OR | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,112 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #253 | #246 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | willamette.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $48,000 | $37,965 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $48,000 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,490 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,716 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $34,396 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,107 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 3,249 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.1% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.5% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1430 | 1050/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,300 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $264 |
Diversity |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 10% | 8% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 25% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 73% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Willamette University | SPU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Willamette University based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 2,112 students)
Willamette University vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Willamette University or SPU?
- Willamette University is 26.4% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($48,000.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- Out of state tuition is 26.4% higher at Willamette University than Seattle Pacific University ($48,000.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Willamette University ($26,155 vs. $27,716)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Willamette University are 0.1% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($15,490 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Willamette University than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Willamette University students is 22.5% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($34,396 vs. $28,070)
Willamette University vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Willamette University or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Willamette University .
- The average SAT score at Willamette University (1228) is 83 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming Willamette University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman Willamette University students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Willamette University (79.1%)
Willamette University vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Willamette University or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and Willamette University.
- The graduation rate at Willamette University is higher than Seattle Pacific University (77% vs. 74%)
- Graduates from Willamette University earn on average $3,900 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $50,400)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $397 lower median federal student loan debt than Willamette University graduates. ($25,603 vs. $26,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Willamette University graduates. ($264 vs. $268)
- More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Willamette University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/