Pacific University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Forest Grove, Oregon. It enrolls 1,516 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes62
Value10
Affordability22
Selectivity28
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89.6%, Pacific University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
900 – 1240
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Pacific University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pacific University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $35,273 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$35,273
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
81%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$56,374
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,620
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,252
Books & Supplies
$1,050
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$72,374
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,318
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,607
$48,001 – $75,000
$29,844
$75,001 – $110,000
$34,369
Over $110,000
$40,911
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,41510%percentile
$9,02525%percentile
$23,223Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $3,723
No Pell $15,250
↓ $7,973
Dependent students $19,000
↓ $4,223
Independent students $12,500
↓ $10,723
Female students $16,948
↓ $6,275
Male students $17,286
↓ $5,937
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($23,223), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Pacific University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pacific University earn a median of $60,583 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,583
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$56,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,800, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pacific University is home to 1,516 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,516
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 41.8%633
Hispanic 20.0%303
Other 17.7%269
Asian 13.3%202
Black 2.7%41
International 1.1%16
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pacific University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbForest Grove, Oregon
Housing
Mostly residential1,048 beds on campus
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Pacific University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
65 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific University is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$195M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,593
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
261 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
85
33%
$91,183
Associate Professors
68
26%
$81,918
Assistant Professors
104
40%
$69,388
Instructors
4
2%
$59,111
Pros & Cons of Pacific University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pacific University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Modest first-year retention
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Pacific University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pacific University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pacific University.
Is Pacific University hard to get into?
Pacific University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Pacific University?
Pacific University has an acceptance rate of 89.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Pacific University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pacific University scored between 900 and 1240 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Pacific University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pacific University scored between 18 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Pacific University cost?
The average net price after aid at Pacific University is $35,273 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pacific University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,583 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $35,273 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pacific University known for?
Pacific University is best known for its programs in Rehabilitation, Optometry, Counseling Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pacific University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pacific University are $60,583, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pacific University accredited?
Yes. Pacific University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Pacific University?
Pacific University enrolls 1,516 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pacific University?
Pacific University graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pacific University a public or private college?
Pacific University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Pacific University located?
Pacific University is located in Forest Grove, Oregon.
What programs does Pacific University offer?
Pacific University offers 65 distinct programs. The most popular include Rehabilitation, Optometry, Counseling Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific University is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Oregon
Other colleges in Oregon share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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