Profile

Founded in 1842 in Salem, OR, Willamette University was the first university established in the western U.S. The university offers 40 majors across 49 academic programs and 26 academic departments. Students also have the opportunity to combine their undergraduate and graduate degrees through the university’s unique dual degree program. The 60-acre campus is near the 305-acre Zena Forest. Students can join over 100 student organizations, and those interested in Greek life can join one of four sororities and five fraternities. Willamette has global partnerships with East China University of Politics and Law, Xiamen University in China and Tokyo International University of America. Nearly three-quarters of alumni live in Oregon, Washington or California. Notable alumni include James Albaugh, former CEO of The Boeing Company. The 19 varsity teams compete in Division III of the Northwest Conference. The school mascot is Blitz the Bearcat—neither a bear nor a cat, but rather a nocturnal Asian mammal called the “binturong.”