University of Portland: A Close Look at Student Demographics and Campus Life

The University of Portland (UP), a private Catholic university founded in 1901, stands on Waud's Bluff overlooking the Willamette River in the University Park neighborhood of North Portland. Affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross, like its sister school, the University of Notre Dame, UP is Oregon's only comprehensive Catholic university. It encompasses a college of arts and sciences, a graduate school, and schools of business, education, engineering, and nursing and health innovations.

Academic Excellence and Faculty Engagement

Students consistently praise the quality of the professors at the University of Portland. One student describes them as "phenomenal-no question about it," while another elaborates that students are "always able to get something out of every lecture" because of how "clear, brilliant, and genuinely enjoyable" the teachers are. This stems from smaller class sizes, which foster a "super strong community" where "the professors get the chance to get to know each and every one of their students personally and are able to help them in a way that is customized to them." The faculty "are all incredibly knowledgeable and interested in both the course content and their students." One education major notes that having professors who "were teachers themselves" is a huge perk that makes this undergrad "feel very confident about my ability to find a teaching job and thrive in my own classroom." Instructors often take learning off campus; one senior boasts being "part of a racing team where we are developing an electric go-kart to race in an upcoming collegiate competition" as part of their capstone class. Business students emphasize the school's "connections at Nike, Adidas, Intel, and most companies based in Portland." The University of Portland also boasts a highly valued nursing program.

A Strong Sense of Community

The sense of community here is unmatched, enthuses one student-as long as you're willing to get involved. In short, "while students are focused on their academics…there is still a social scene and atmosphere if you want it." To put it another way: "Almost everyone I know is involved in a club or organization, and it is where I have met almost all of my friends." The student body includes "students with different identities, cultures, [and] passions." One student describes their peers as "mostly PNW-style, [and] outdoorsy…either nonreligious or progressive religious," and others value the "diverse set of minds" and "very unique people'' they're surrounded by on campus.

Campus Life and Spirituality

Affectionately known as "The Bluff," the UP campus offers a lifestyle "like no other." Dorms offer a strong "'lobby culture' so there's always people in the lobby doing homework, or playing a game with a friend, or just relaxing." There's an equally strong culture of spirituality-true to the school's Holy Cross roots-in that each dorm has its own chapel. "There is always a way to grow stronger in your faith here." And while students emphasize all the fun there is to be had with sports and dances and the weekly Pilots After Dark pub-style event ("Sometimes there is trivia, drag performances, [or] seasonal activities"), UP is "overall not a party school." Instead of discussing drinking, students speak of how "The Bluff is a beautiful place, and just walking around campus is so relaxing," and revel in the "outdoor opportunities available in the Pacific Northwest," like kayaking, camping, and skiing.

Career Readiness and Outcomes

The University of Portland wants to raise students UP, and it has a whole Career Readiness Guide and a library of online resources and tools to get them there. In the classrooms, students participate in ten “career readiness competencies,” such as Ethical Reasoning & Decision Making or Digital Literacy. On campus, the year-round Career Education Center works with students by phone, video, and in person to ensure that these competencies are evident in a student's applications, résumés, interviews, and more. Students also mention the usefulness of clubs, like the Society of Women Engineers, which has “amazing opportunities offered for career preparation,” and the school’s connections and location, both of which help “students connect with industry professionals,” much of which can be done through the CEC’s job board. The school’s self-reported success rate finds about 85 percent of graduates employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation, with the highest full-time rates coming from the schools of Nursing & Health and Engineering.

Diversity and Inclusion

Understanding the demographic makeup of a university is crucial for prospective students. While specific, up-to-the-minute data fluctuates, general trends offer valuable insights. The University of Portland strives to create a welcoming environment for students from various backgrounds.

Gender Diversity

As of Fall 2023, the University of Portland's undergraduate student population was approximately 64% female and 36% male.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Based on available data, the approximate racial and ethnic breakdown of the student body is as follows:

37% White
23% Hispanic/Latino
23% Asian
4% Black or African American
10% Multiracial
2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Less than 1% Native American or Alaskan Native

It’s important to note that these figures are estimates and can change with each incoming class.

Beyond Numbers: A Holistic View of Diversity

Diversity extends beyond race and ethnicity. The University of Portland embraces diversity in socioeconomic status, geographic origin, cultural background, religious beliefs, and personal experiences. Students describe their peers as coming from diverse backgrounds, with varied interests and passions.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Political Views

Based on a small sample of student responses, the political landscape on campus appears relatively balanced, with a mix of moderate, liberal, and conservative viewpoints.

Very conservative: 7%
Moderate: 41%
Liberal: 21%
Very liberal: 17%
Not sure: 10%

Geographic Diversity

The University of Portland attracts students from across the United States and around the world. A significant portion of the student body comes from out of state, contributing to a diverse range of perspectives and experiences.

Campus and Facilities

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.

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. It will feature state of the art strength and cardio training facilities, 3 gymnasiums, a suspended track, a bike shop, classrooms, and an outdoor pursuits office. It was scheduled to be completed by May 2015. Plans for a $30 million, three-story academic building were announced in March 2017. The building encompasses 65,616 square feet with 17 classrooms, 35 faculty offices, 12 informal and formal gathering spaces, including 4 conference rooms, and the 146-seat Brian J. The School recently completed the Shiley-Marcos Center for Design and Innovation.

Other Key Statistics

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at University of Portland is $54,400, which is $29,825 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575). After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $34,951. In 2023, 99% of undergraduate students attending University of Portland received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 40% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Admissions

University of Portland received 9,041 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 10.7% annual growth. Out of those 9,041 applicants, 8,624 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 95.4% acceptance rate.

Enrollment

University of Portland had a total enrollment of 3,457 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at University of Portland is 3,153 students and the part-time enrollment is 304. This means that 91.2% of students enrolled at University of Portland are enrolled full-time.

Graduation Rates

In 2023, 74% of students graduating from University of Portland completed their program within 100% "normal time". Comparatively, 81% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 81% within 200%.

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