Western Oregon University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Monmouth, Oregon. It enrolls 3,103 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 CalendarQuarter
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.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes35
Value62
Affordability68
Selectivity3
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 98.1%, Western Oregon University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
98.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Western Oregon University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
14.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western Oregon 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 $17,237 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,237
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
74%
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 (in-state)
$11,879
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$32,534
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,528
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,528
Books & Supplies
$1,125
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,676
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,676
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,062
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
$15,575
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,585
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,151
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,974
Over $110,000
$20,243
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.
$3,66610%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$20,609Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,85890%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 $16,500
↓ $4,109
No Pell $12,702
↓ $7,907
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $6,609
Independent students $19,902
↓ $707
Female students $15,000
↓ $5,609
Male students $14,400
↓ $6,209
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($20,609), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Oregon University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Oregon University earn a median of $51,815 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,815
Earning > $25K
79%
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
$37,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,000, about 27% 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 ↑
21.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Oregon University is home to 3,103 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,103
Part-Time
14%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 55.5%1,721
Hispanic 27.2%844
Other 9.7%301
Black 3.1%96
Asian 2.6%81
International 0.6%19
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Oregon University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeMonmouth, Oregon
Housing
Mostly residential1,300 beds on campus
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Western Oregon University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
60 distinct programs across
20 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 Western Oregon University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,188
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$22M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,821
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
216 instructional faculty across 5 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
73
34%
$83,446
Associate Professors
41
19%
$67,878
Assistant Professors
46
21%
$57,030
Instructors
52
24%
$49,389
Lecturers
4
2%
$51,617
Pros & Cons of Western Oregon University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Oregon University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Oregon University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Oregon University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Oregon University.
Is Western Oregon University hard to get into?
Western Oregon University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Oregon University?
Western Oregon University has an acceptance rate of 98.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Western Oregon University cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Oregon University is $17,237 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Oregon University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,815 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,237 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Oregon University known for?
Western Oregon University is best known for its programs in Education, General, Psychology, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Oregon University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Oregon University are $51,815, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Oregon University accredited?
Yes. Western Oregon University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Western Oregon University?
Western Oregon University enrolls 3,103 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Oregon University?
Western Oregon University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Oregon University a public or private college?
Western Oregon University is a Public institution.
Where is Western Oregon University located?
Western Oregon University is located in Monmouth, Oregon.
What programs does Western Oregon University offer?
Western Oregon University offers 60 distinct programs. The most popular include Education, General, Psychology, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Oregon University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Oregon University is 13:1, 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.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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