Willamette University
Salem, Oregon · Private Nonprofit · 77.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Willamette University scores 59 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. Located in Salem, Oregon, with 1,592 students, Willamette is a small private liberal arts college with sticker tuition of $51,156 and net price of $25,121. Median 6-year earnings of $36,600 and a payback period of 11 years reflect the earnings profile typical of a selective Pacific Northwest liberal arts college. Completion rate is solid at 71.2% and the repayment rate of 83.6% is adequate. Median debt of $21,500 is moderate. The earnings premium of 0.218 is below average, meaning Willamette graduates earn roughly 22% more than workers without a college degree - not a strong earnings differentiator. The strongest programs by Scorecard data are Physics (10 grads, B+, $89,506 yr4), Computer Science (5 grads, $80,077 yr1 - tiny sample), Chemistry (13 grads, B+), and Economics (49 grads, B). The weakest are Biology (31 grads, D), Psychology (24 grads, D), Sociology (17 grads, D), and History (7 grads, D). Multiple programs have debt-to-earnings ratios above 0.80. Willamette's ROI challenge is structural: the net price is high relative to the regional Oregon employment market, and the liberal arts curriculum does not consistently produce high early-career earnings.
Willamette University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $51,156/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $51,156/yr |
| Average net price | $25,121/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $100,484 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,911 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 11 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,592 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $51,156/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,121/year, or roughly $100,484 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,182/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,794/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $21,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $56,911 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.59, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,182 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,825 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,225 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,382 |
| $110,001+ | $33,794 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $16,182 per year. Against $36,600 median 6-year earnings and an 11-year payback, the low-income case is workable only for students in science or economics tracks. Biology, psychology, and humanities at this price produce difficult repayment profiles. The 71.2% completion rate is solid but one in four enrollees does not graduate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,225 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $22,382. At $22,382 for upper-middle-income families, the financial case requires program selection discipline. Economics and science track students can justify this cost; humanities track students face a challenging 11-year payback relative to peers at Oregon public universities.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $33,794 per year - roughly $135,000 over four years. Against $36,600 median 6-year earnings and an 11-year payback, the financial case at full cost is weak by Scorecard metrics. High-income families choosing Willamette are prioritizing Salem's proximity to Portland, Pacific Northwest culture, and the residential liberal arts experience over financial optimization.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Willamette University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $63,255 | B |
| International Relations | $63,407 | C |
| Biology | $45,197 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $59,337 | B |
| Psychology | $29,678 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $70,412 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $54,657 | D |
| English Language and Literature | $50,060 | C |
| Sociology | $29,312 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $32,256 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Physics
Physics (10 graduates) reaches $89,506 at year four (no year-one figure), with a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.257, median debt $22,989). Small sample size limits statistical reliability but the four-year figure is strong, reflecting physics graduates in technology, engineering, and research roles in Oregon and beyond. The debt ratio of 0.257 is well-managed.
Economics
Economics (49 graduates) earns $45,993 year one and $63,255 at year four, with a B grade (debt-to-earnings 0.424, median debt $19,500). Year-one earnings are the strongest reported for a humanities-adjacent program at Willamette. The debt ratio of 0.424 is manageable. Economics graduates likely enter Oregon finance, consulting, and government roles. The four-year progression is consistent with meaningful career advancement.
International Relations
International Relations (35 graduates) earns $35,162 year one and $63,407 at year four, with a C grade (debt-to-earnings 0.607, median debt $21,331). Year-one earnings are modest but the four-year jump to $63k is strong for a social science, suggesting IR graduates progress into government, NGO, or private sector international roles. The C grade reflects the structural gap between year-one IR salaries and debt.
Biology
Biology (31 graduates) earns $25,100 year one and $45,197 at year four, with a D grade (debt-to-earnings 0.991, median debt $24,870). Year-one earnings are poor and the debt-to-earnings ratio approaches 1.0 - essentially a dollar of debt for every dollar earned. Biology at Willamette is a heavily pre-professional track; many graduates pursue graduate or professional school. Students taking on debt here for biology should factor in the additional debt load from medical or graduate school.
Psychology
Psychology (24 graduates) earns $29,678 year one (no year-four data), with a D grade (debt-to-earnings 0.827, median debt $24,547). Year-one earnings are weak relative to the debt load. Psychology at a small private with a $25,121 net price requires either graduate school advancement or significant career pivoting to reach financial stability. The repayment trajectory from this starting point is difficult.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 87.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Willamette University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 77.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 600-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-33 |
| Enrollment | 1,592 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,083 |
At 77.1%, Willamette is broadly accessible for a private liberal arts college. SAT 600-710 Math and 640-730 Reading is consistent with moderately selective small privates. ACT 28-33 composite. Admission is not a competitive barrier for most well-prepared applicants. Willamette evaluates academic preparation and fit with its liberal arts mission. Geographic diversity and demonstrated academic curiosity are factors in its holistic review.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include George Fox University, Oklahoma City University, and University of Evansville. Willamette's ROI of 59 is above George Fox (ROI 57) and similar to other small Pacific Northwest private colleges. Among Oregon private colleges in our dataset, Willamette's completion and repayment rates are stronger than most. The institution's challenge relative to peers is a $25,121 net price against $36,600 median earnings - a structural difficulty it shares with many small liberal arts colleges outside elite tier endowment ranges.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette University (this school) | 59 | $25,121 | $56,911 |
| University of Evansville | 58 | $18,499 | $53,770 |
| Oklahoma City University | 58 | $22,857 | $54,655 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| George Fox University | 57 | $31,679 | $59,761 |
| New Hope Christian College-Eugene | 22 | $21,600 | $31,115 |
Who Thrives Here
Willamette admits 77.1% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 600-710 Math and 640-730 Reading; ACT 28-33. Enrollment of 1,592 is small. Pell grant rate of 23.6% indicates a primarily middle- and upper-income student body. Willamette is the oldest university in the Pacific Northwest and draws students who value a traditional residential liberal arts experience with proximity to Oregon state government (the campus is adjacent to the state capitol). Students with clear professional or pre-professional goals in science or business fare better by the data than those in humanities-heavy tracks.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Willamette University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $25,121 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,911 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 71.2% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $21,500 against $56,911 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Willamette University: Common Questions
Is Willamette University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Willamette University scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $25,121 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,911 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools.
How much does Willamette University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $25,121 a year, or roughly $100,484 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Willamette University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,911 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,111 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Willamette University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11 years for Willamette University. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Willamette University graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $21,500, against $56,911 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Willamette University?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.2%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.