Understanding the University of Portland's Acceptance Rate: A Comprehensive Guide
The University of Portland (UP), a private Catholic university in Portland, Oregon, established in 1901, is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross, the same order that founded the University of Notre Dame. Situated in the University Park neighborhood near St. Johns, the campus overlooks the Willamette River. As Oregon's only comprehensive Catholic university, UP comprises a college of arts and sciences, a graduate school, and schools of business, education, engineering, and nursing and health innovations.
A Look at the Numbers: Acceptance Rate and selectivity
For the Fall of 2022, the University of Portland demonstrated a relatively high acceptance rate of 95%, indicating a not selective admissions process. This means that the university admitted a large percentage of its applicants. While this figure provides a general overview, a deeper dive into the data reveals a more nuanced picture of UP's admissions landscape.
It is important to note that the overall acceptance rate should be considered alongside other factors, such as GPA ranges and standardized test scores, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the university's admission standards.
Academic Profile of Admitted Students
The academic profile of admitted students offers valuable insights into the university's expectations.
GPA
GPA is a very important academic factor. The GPA ranges for admitted students are as follows:
Read also: Is Temple a Good Fit?
- 3.75+: 46%
- 3.50-3.74: 26%
- 3.25-3.49: 15%
- 3.00-3.24: 8%
- 2.50-2.99: 4%
- 2.00-2.49: 1%
- Below 2.00: Not available
The average GPA at University of Portland is 3.69, requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, with a leaning toward A's. These figures suggest that a significant portion of admitted students have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Standardized Test Scores
Half the applicants admitted to University of Portland who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1160 and 1370 or an ACT score of 25 and 31. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges.
While the University of Portland has a test-optional admissions policy, SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted. This means that students are not required to submit their scores, but those who do may have them considered as part of their application.
Application Requirements and Deadlines
Prospective students should be aware of the application requirements and deadlines. The application deadline at University of Portland is Jan. 15.
Required Materials
High School GPA Required
Read also: Applying to Montgomery College
High School Rank Recommended
College Prep Courses Recommended
Recommendations are considered by admissions officials at University of Portland.
Application Options
University of Portland accepts the Common Application.
A Holistic Approach to Admissions
While academic performance is undoubtedly important, the University of Portland employs a holistic approach to admissions, considering a variety of factors beyond GPA and test scores. These factors may include:
Read also: UCLA Anderson Guide
- Coursework difficulty
- Extracurricular activities
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statements
University of Portland Rankings and Reputation
University of Portland is a private institution that was founded in 1901. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Portland is ranked No. #2 in Regional Universities West. It's also ranked No. #1 in Best Undergraduate Teaching. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,986 (fall 2024), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 108 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Portland is 9:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.
A Brief History of the University of Portland
The first institution located on Waud's Bluff was Portland University, which was established by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1891. According to University of Portland tradition, Archbishop Alexander Christie, the head of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, saw a large building on the bluff from aboard a ship on the nearby Willamette River. The Archdiocese purchased West Hall (renamed Waldschmidt Hall in 1992) and the surrounding campus with financial assistance from the Congregation of Holy Cross, and named the new institution Columbia University after the nearby Columbia River.
After two decades, Columbia University achieved junior college status. In 1925, the university's College of Arts and Sciences was founded, and in 1929, a class of seven men were awarded the university's first bachelor's degrees. In 1935, the school took on its present name, the University of Portland. The 1930s also saw the St. In 1948 the school of Engineering was founded, followed by the Graduate School in 1950 and the School of Education in 1962. University of Portland admitted women to all courses of study in 1951. Prior to this transition, Marylhurst University had been the only Catholic institution of higher learning to serve the educational needs of Oregon women.
Academic Programs and Schools
UP has six divisions of study: the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education, the Shiley School of Engineering, the School of Nursing & Health Innovations, and the Graduate School.
Several of the departments offer graduate programs in addition to their undergraduate majors, and these programs dual report to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Dean of the Graduate School. The Communication Studies department offers a M.A. in communication and a M.S. in Management Communication. The Performing & Fine Arts department offers the M.F.A. in Directing. This program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. The Theology department offers a three-year Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry.
The School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. At the graduate level, the School of Business offers a MS in finance, a MS in Operations & Technology Management, an MBA, an MBA in Nonprofit Administration, a technology entrepreneurship certificate, and a post-MBA certificate. The graduate degrees are accountable to both the Dean of the School of Business and the Dean of the Graduate School. The MBA program is noted for its diversity within the context of Oregon. states.
The PACE (Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education) program allows 15-25 teachers to earn a graduate degree during summer school, while gaining in-classroom teaching experience during the academic year at a Catholic school over a three-year period.
The school of engineering was founded in 1948 and grew substantially in 1969 when UP absorbed Multnomah College. Multnomah College was noted for its engineering program and as a result of the merger UP renamed its school the Multnomah School of Engineering. In 2007 the University of Portland was given a $12 million gift (the largest in UP's history at that time) toward the School of Engineering by Donald and Darlene Shiley of San Diego. Donald Shiley arrived at UP the year the school of engineering was founded. Graduating in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in general engineering, he would later invent a heart valve and various medical devices that have been credited with saving thousands of lives. Shiley Hall is now the largest building on the UP campus and has won several awards for sustainable design and construction. The Shileys later gave an additional $8 million gift to the engineering school, which was then renamed the Donald P. The school offers accredited Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering, as well as a Bachelor of Science in computer science.
The School of Nursing & Health Innovations was established as the St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing & Health Innovations in 1892, two years after the northwest region's first nurse training program was founded at nearby Good Samaritan Hospital. Throughout the 20th century many nursing education programs relocated from hospitals to institutions of higher learning; the St. Vincent school became part of this national trend when it joined the University of Portland in 1934 and began granting a four-year degree in 1938. Today most clinical practice still takes place at St. The School of Nursing & Health Innovations awards the BS in Nursing baccalaureate degree and the MS in Nursing graduate degree. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional doctorate program initiated in 2008. The master's entry program (AEM-UP) enables individuals who possess a non-nursing bachelor's degree to enter nursing at the graduate level. In collaboration with practice partners, the clinical nurse leader Master of Science degree prepares generalists for leadership at the point of care.
The Graduate School oversees the post-bachelor's degree programs that are embedded within the College of Arts & Sciences and the four professional schools.
Campus Life and Location
The University of Portland sits on top of Waud's Bluff overlooking the industrialized Swan Island and the Willamette River. The university is located in the University Park neighborhood of North Portland, a primarily residential area of the city. The campus itself is a traditional college campus with three residential quads, East Quad, Villa Quad, and North Quad, as well as an Academic Quad. The main academic building on campus is Franz Hall. Located at the center of the university across from the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, it houses the School of Business and the School of Education. There are ten main residence hall communities on campus: Mehling Hall, Corrado Hall, Villa Maria, Shipstad Hall, Kenna Hall, Christie Hall, Haggerty and Tyson Halls, Fields Hall, Schoenfeldt Hall, and Lund Family Hall. They are divided into three residential quads: Villa Quad, East Quad, and North Quad. Mehling, Corrado, and Villa Maria are situated around the Villa Quad, and Shipstad, Kenna, and Christie are situated around the East Quad.
Extracurricular Activities and Athletics
The Air Force ROTC program at the University of Portland is one of the oldest programs on campus, established in 1951. The AFROTC unit on the campus, known as Detachment 695, is also one of the largest in the country, with its membership numbering nearly 4% of the campus undergraduate student population.
UP's NCAA soccer program became well known after Clive Charles, who started coaching the men's team in 1986, added the women's head coaching job in 1989, heading both teams until his death in 2003. The women's team won the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2002 and 2005, led both years by current Canadian international star Christine Sinclair. Home matches are played at 4,892-seat Merlo Field, part of the Clive Charles Soccer Complex on campus.
Beyond soccer, UP also boasts one of the nation's top NCAA Division I men's cross country teams. The Pilots won 31 straight West Coast Conference Championships through 2010, one of the longest conference championship streaks in the NCAA. Other intercollegiate sports at UP include basketball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, tennis, and rowing.
Campus Expansion and Renovations
The school is undergoing expansion and renovations for both its campus housing facilities, academic buildings, and recreation facilities. For housing, a new residence hall (Lund Family) was built for the 2016-2017 school year. In academics, the Engineering Building was renovated using a $12 million gift for its expansion and improvement from Donald and Darlene Shiley. Additionally, the university has completely renovated the Clark Library. In athletics and recreation, in May 2014, the university began construction on the Beauchamp Recreation and Wellness Center, named after the university's 19th president, Rev. E. William Beauchamp. Plans for a $30 million, three-story academic building were announced in March 2017. The School recently completed the Shiley-Marcos Center for Design and Innovation.
Financial Information
The school's tuition and fees are $60,350. Sixty-three percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $33,248. The four-year graduation rate is 70%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $67,913.
The endowment as of June 30, 2022 was $297.2 million.
tags: #acceptance #rate #University #of #Portland
