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Colleges / Willamette University

Willamette University

Salem, OR 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate81%
Acceptance Rate81%

Willamette University Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Willamette University was $48,000 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 6.67%–from $45,000 the previous year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students pay way less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Plus, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college more manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Willamette University meets 76% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Willamette University full-time are awarded $39,481 a year in financial aid, on average.

Graduates in the class of 2023 had an average of $28,722 in student loans per borrower.

Does Willamette University Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Willamette University is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Oregon as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a school where you qualify for in-state tuition can save significant money on the cost of tuition, as well as loans and interest owed. Take the time to check your state's criteria for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Oregon colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Willamette University?

Tuition at Willamette University is the same for every student.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or Willamette University-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Willamette University:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideWillamette University •Willamette University-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.


Willamette University Room, Board, Fees, and More


In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Willamette University.

Room and Board Costs at Willamette University

Room and board at Willamette University costs $15,380 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining halls. Students who do not live on-campus but still want to use the dining facilities can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $7,900.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Willamette University

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in special activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have ways so that those with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at Willamette University

The cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

The location of a college or university can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in an urban area could be expensive, but there may be more buses, trains and affordable flights to actually get to school. The Willamette University campus is located in a city in Oregon, near Portland.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to factor in personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.


The Full Cost of Attending Willamette University


Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of how much students can expect to shell out for Willamette University.

Total Cost of Willamette University

What will the cost of attending Willamette University be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $48,000
Room and Board $15,380
Board Only $7,480
Other expenses $1,528

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $65,134
Off-Campus $57,234

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Willamette University Financial Aid


The majority of Willamette University undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 805 of the 1,335 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Willamette University meets 76% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $39,481 a year. Around 59% of Willamette University undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Willamette University graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $28,722 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $19,800
Private Loans $51,027
Most Common Loans for Willamette University Students
Federal Loans 59%
Private loans 10%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Willamette University financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Willamette University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Willamette University awarded 798 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $30.3 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $11.71 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Willamette University

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Willamette University students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Willamette University was $39,481 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Willamette University seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $25,653
Off-Campus $17,753

What will attending Willamette University really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Willamette University's net cost calculator on their website.

Willamette University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Willamette University does not have guaranteed tuition.

Willamette University offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Willamette University Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Willamette University has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Willamette University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Willamette University's endowment was $355 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Willamette University spends about $16,791 a year.


Learn More About Willamette University


Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Willamette University

Willamette University Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$63,606

In State

$63,606

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$48,000
$48,000
Fees
$226
$226
Housing
$15,380
$15,380
Books
Unknown
Unknown

Willamette University Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

61%

Average Financial Aid Package

$33,587

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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