Western Oregon University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Founded in 1856, Western Oregon University (WOU) is Oregon's oldest public university. The attractive 157-acre campus is located in Monmouth, Oregon, about 15 miles from Salem (home of Willamette University and Corban College) and 60 miles from Portland. Outdoor lovers will find skiing, hiking, biking and the coast all within an easy drive. The university is home to the Teaching Research Institute, and education fields are strong at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Among the 40 undergraduate majors, business is also extremely popular. Academics are supported by a 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 18.

On the athletic front, the Western Oregon University Wolves compete in the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The university fields 13 intercollegiate teams. Popular sports include football, basketball, track and field, and cross country.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, Western Oregon University had an acceptance rate of 79%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 79 students were admitted and 21 were rejected. This makes the admissions process only moderately selective, and most students with average or better grades and standardized test scores should have a good chance of being admitted.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Western Oregon University does not require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, but some students do. The SAT is more popular than the ACT on the West Coast, and during the 2019-20 admissions cycle, 24% of applicants submitted SAT scores.

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This admissions data tells us that most of Western Oregon's matriculated students who submitted SAT scores fall within the top 60% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students who enrolled at WOU scored between 470 and 610, while 25% scored at or below 470 and 25% scored at or above 610. On the math section, 50% of matriculated students scored between 475 and 590, while 25% scored at or below 475 and 25% scored at or above 590. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1200 or greater will have particularly competitive chances at East Tennessee State University.

Keep in mind that when test scores are optional, stronger students are more likely to submit scores and that can make a university look more selective than it actually is.

Requirements

SAT and ACT scores are truly optional at WOU. While the school will consider scores during the admissions process, most students choose not to submit scores. Also, the university does not use scores for placement or advising purposes.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Western Oregon University students tend to prefer the SAT over the ACT. During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, only 16% of matriculated students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of WOU's matriculated students fall within the top three quartiles nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students who chose to attend Western Oregon University received a composite ACT score between 16 and 23, while 25% scored at or above 23, and 25% scored below 16.

Requirements

Western Oregon does not require students to submit ACT scores for most programs, and the great majority of students do not submit scores. The university also does not require the optional ACT writing test.

GPA and Class Rank

According to Western Oregon University's common data set, the average high school GPA for all first-time, first-year students was a 3.33 or roughly a B+. Class rank data shows that WOU isn't overly competitive. 62% of matriculated students ranked in the bottom half of their graduating class, and about half of all students ranked in the bottom 25%. Only 9% of students graduated in the top 10% of their high school class.

Because not all WOU students are academically prepared to handle the challenges of college, the school's four-year graduation rate is just 25%, and the six-year graduation rate is 45%.

If You Like Western Oregon University, You May Also Like These Schools

• Oregon State University
• University of Portland
• George Fox University 
• Lewis & Clark College
• Idaho State University

Data Source: The National Center for Education Statistics and the Western Oregon University website