Willamette University vs Lawrence University
Willamette University and Lawrence University, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Willamette, located in Salem, Oregon, boasts a higher acceptance rate (72%) compared to Lawrence's selective admissions (49%). While Willamette's student body is more diverse, Lawrence has a slightly higher graduation rate (83% vs. 81%). Both universities excel in various disciplines, with Willamette excelling in law, business, and education, and Lawrence excelling in music, theater, and creative writing. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover more key differences, including popular majors, student demographics, and financial aid opportunities, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Lawrence University |
![]() Willamette University |
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Overview |
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Location | Appleton, Wisconsin | Salem, Oregon |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Trimester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 89.0% | 80.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 75.0% | 79.6% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1230 - 1460 | N/A |
ACT range | 27 - 32 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 24.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 37.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,907 | 3,680 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,179 | 2,930 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 402 | 260 |
Yield rate | 18.4% | 8.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $65,445 | $60,106 |
Average net price | $24,804 | $37,400 |
Tuition | $52,101 | $43,500 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,814
Meal plan:
$5,370
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Room/dormitory:
$7,150
Meal plan:
$6,650
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $39,841 |
99.0%
Average amount $30,413 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,053 |
50.0%
Average amount $5,145 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $16,464 |
7.0%
Average amount $15,973 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,483
Men 45.8% Women 54.2% |
1,236
Men 42.2% Women 57.8% |
Graduate students | N/A |
549
Men 49.2% Women 50.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 73.1% | N/A |
International students | 12.3% | 2.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 1,460 | 1,228 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota Texas California | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 80.5% | 72.0% |
Dropout rate | 19.0% | 28.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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