Portland, ORprivate nonprofitup.edu
Admit rate has ranged 77%–95% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The University of Portland, a private Catholic university perched on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River, combines rigorous academics with a tight-knit community vibe. Known for its strong nursing, engineering, and business programs, UP boasts Oregon's best four-year graduation rate and a surprisingly laid-back Pacific Northwest ethos—think friendly pastors, no Greek life, and easy access to outdoor adventures.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
UP is far from a pressure cooker—Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hover between 62% and 95%, depending on the source, with admitted students typically sporting SAT scores between 1160-1370 or ACT composites of 25-31. About half of incoming first-years had GPAs above 3.75. The middle 50% SAT range for the 2024-2025 class was 1168-1370, with ACT composites between 25-31. Notably, the gender skew is pronounced: 64.5% female vs. 35.3% male undergraduates.
With an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs, UP emphasizes hands-on learning. Standouts include nursing (a feeder for Oregon Health & Science University), engineering (with a renowned entrepreneurial mindset focus), and business. The College of Arts & Sciences anchors liberal arts, while schools of education and nursing round out professional offerings. Only 5% of students major in social sciences or math—this is a school where pre-professional tracks dominate.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
UP’s 53% on-campus housing rate fosters a residential vibe where dorms become hubs for late-night study sessions and impromptu river-view hangouts. With no Greek life, socializing revolves around 100+ clubs (from outdoor adventure groups to acapella) and Portland’s indie coffee shops. The Catholic identity is present but low-key—students describe campus ministers as 'friendly and non-judgmental,' and nearly half the student body lives off-campus by junior year, often in nearby Alberta Arts District apartments.
UP delivers on ROI: its 80% four-year graduation rate is Oregon’s highest, and alumni earn median salaries of $67,913 six years post-graduation (per College Scorecard)—with some sources citing averages as high as $77,017. Nursing and engineering grads particularly thrive, leveraging UP’s strong regional ties. The average debt at graduation is $28,145, slightly below the national average for private schools.
At $52,322 average aid packages, UP works hard to offset its $34,951 Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. (after scholarships). 62.67% of students receive financial aid, with merit scholarships heavily weighted toward academic performance. The Net Price Calculator suggests most families pay significantly less than sticker price—though it’s still a steep climb for middle-income Oregonians without diocesan scholarships.
UP punches above its weight: a small-school vibe with big-city perks (Portland’s food carts and indie bookstores are 15 minutes away) and rare curricular combos like a theology/engineering dual degree. Its Catholic identity manifests more in service-learning than dogma—think climate justice initiatives partnered with local nonprofits. For West Coast students wanting a collaborative, outdoorsy alternative to Jesuit heavyweights like Santa Clara, UP’s blend of academic rigor and PNW chill is hard to beat.