Willamette opened in 1842 and calls itself the oldest university in the western United States. Its Salem campus sits directly across State Street from the Oregon State Capitol, with the Mill Stream running between the buildings. Alongside a liberal arts college it runs the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, a law school and graduate programmes in data science. In 2021 it also took in the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland.
Salem, Oregon, United States
Official website: willamette.edu
1842
Private university
Atkinson Graduate School of Management
Salem and Portland
$45,000 – $56,000
Undergraduate tuition at top; graduate programmes vary
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on willamette.edu before you apply.
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
21 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
Juris Doctor
DoctorateDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Economics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
BA Politics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
The oldest university in the western US.
Politics and law classes next door to the state legislature.
An MBA open to students straight out of college.
Politics and law graduates take jobs in Oregon's state government, a block from campus.
Atkinson MBA graduates join firms in Portland, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
Data science graduates can use STEM OPT for up to three years of US work.
Undergrad
Early Action or Regular
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Salem is Oregon's state capital, a mid-sized city in the Willamette Valley surrounded by farmland, orchards and vineyards. Riverfront Park, with its carousel, is a short walk from campus.
Amtrak Cascades trains run north to Portland in about an hour. The Oregon coast and the Cascade mountains are each about ninety minutes away. Winters are grey and wet rather than snowy.
Form I-20 issued by Willamette University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduates can apply Early Action in November or Regular Decision in January. The MBA and data science programmes admit in rounds through the spring, and law has its own deadlines.
Nearly all programmes start in late August, at the beginning of the fall semester.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, Willamette University issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Economics, politics, the Atkinson MBA and data science attract many international students. Undergraduates need strong grades and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 88. The MBA takes students with little work experience, and graduate applicants need a bachelor's degree.
Willamette awards merit scholarships to international undergraduates and to many MBA students. Amounts vary, so send your application early to be considered for the larger awards.
