University of Portland

Private · Moderately Selective · OR

Photo: Visitor7 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationOR · West

SettingUrban

Undergrads2,957

Student:faculty9:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate69.1%

6-yr grad rate79.8%

Drop-out rate11.7%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$58k

Out-of-state tuition$58k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity62.1%

Gender diversity65%

International3.2%

IdentityRoman Catholic

Overview

University of Portland is a private Catholic university run by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the same religious order that founded Notre Dame, set on a bluff above the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. The Holy Cross mission shapes a close-knit, service-oriented campus culture that runs through student life as much as the curriculum. It draws students who want a Catholic, mission-driven education without the size of a large research university.

Academics

Nursing is the university's most selective and best-regarded program, feeding graduates into Pacific Northwest hospital systems, and engineering and education carry similar reputations for rigor and job placement. The Pamplin School of Business rounds out the professional core. Class sizes stay small enough that students get to know faculty directly, and the curriculum leans practical and career-oriented rather than purely theoretical, consistent with the university's Holy Cross emphasis on formation alongside instruction.

Campus & student life

The bluff-top campus overlooks the Willamette River and sits a short distance from downtown Portland, giving students city access without an urban campus feel. Soccer is the defining athletic tradition, with both the men's and women's programs having won national championships, and the sport carries a campus-wide following unusual for a school this size. Residential life and campus ministry are closely tied together, and Masses, retreats, and service trips draw regular participation well beyond the most devout students.

Getting in

Portland reviews applicants holistically, with the personal essay and any supplemental faith or service-related material read closely rather than as a formality. Because nursing is far more selective than the university as a whole, applicants to that program should expect their intended major to matter more than a first look at the school suggests. Demonstrated interest and a clear sense of fit with the Catholic mission tend to help borderline applicants.

After graduation

Nursing graduates place reliably into regional and West Coast hospital systems, and engineering graduates find steady footing with Pacific Northwest employers, including the Portland area's aerospace and tech firms. The Holy Cross network and an engaged alumni base give graduates an informal pipeline back into Portland-area jobs even outside the professional programs.

Worth knowing

Students join campus ministry and service programs as a matter of course, not as an add-on, and Holy Cross priests are a visible daily presence rather than an occasional one. The soccer tradition means athletic events draw a real campus crowd, unusual for a school of its size. Prospective nursing students should apply directly into the program, since it fills well before the general applicant pool does.

up.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate89.2%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1160–1370 · ACT 25–31

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Regular decisionJan 15

Applying