Public
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Eugene, Oregon
85.1% Acceptance Rate
University of Oregon — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
85.1%Acceptance Rate
3.73Avg GPA
1257Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$32,636Annual Cost
$61,324Grad Salary
22%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
85.1%
Avg GPA
3.73
Avg SAT
1257
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SAT Middle 50%
1130–1360
ACT Middle 50%
22–30
Avg Net Price
$21,782
Need-Based Aid
22% receive Pell
University of Oregon is a major public research university known for its commitment to high-impact research, innovation, and academic excellence. Offering a diverse range of programs in a beautiful, Pacific Northwest setting, the university fosters a dynamic environment where students work alongside scholars to address global issues.
University of Oregon Acceptance Rate
Admission at University of Oregon is inclusive by design. 85.1% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 85.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.73 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.53 – 3.72
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.28
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Oregon Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 1 for University of Oregon (Early Action — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 87 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: April 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
UO GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at UO is 3.73. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.43 and 3.73? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.93–4.13.UO GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective. This GPA sits within the typical admitted band.
Recommended Strategy: A top-5th-percentile SAT/ACT score makes the strongest case here.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.73 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.53 – 3.72
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.33 – 3.52
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.32
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Required application essay (650 words max, open topic); test scores are optional and explicitly play no defined role in the admission decision even if submitted
- Architecture, art, interior architecture, product design, and music majors receive a separate admission decision from general UO admission; non-admits to the major are reclassified "exploring," not denied outright
- Early Action (Nov. 1, non-binding) and Regular (Jan. 15) deadlines; no Early Decision program exists at UO by design, so students retain full decision time until May 1 either way
- Clark Honors College requires its own distinct essay on intellectual curiosity - the general UO essay cannot be reused to satisfy it
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at UO
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from University of Oregon's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Oregon (UO) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at UO. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into UO Without SAT or ACT?
UO considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Oregon Average SAT Score: 1257
Admitted students at University of Oregon average a 1257 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1257 — Slightly Competitive
A 1257 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1360 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Oregon allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1130? A retake is worth it at UO. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 610 | 550 | 670 |
| SAT Reading | 635 | 580 | 690 |
| SAT Composite | 1257 | 1130 | 1360 |
A score under 1130 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1360+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into University of Oregon (UO) with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in UO's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
University of Oregon (UO) ACT Requirements
UO's admitted students average an ACT of 26.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 26 — Competitive
An average of 26 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 20 | 28 |
| ACT English | 27 | 21 | 32 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 22 | 30 |
Can I get into University of Oregon with a 30 ACT?
At 30, you're in the top quarter of UO's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, UO weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for UO
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into UO isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Write the required 650-word essay as the actual centerpiece - UO is test-optional and doesn't weight test scores in the decision at all
UO's freshman essay (650 words or fewer, open topic) is required and explicitly meant to surface information not visible elsewhere in the file; UO states test scores "play no specific role in the admission decision" even when submitted, which is a stronger statement than typical test-optional policy and shifts even more relative weight onto the essay, self-reported transcript, and activities list.
If applying to architecture, art, music, interior architecture, or product design, expect a second, separate admission decision
These majors are reviewed apart from general UO admission and require their own departmental materials - for example, art and product design route through a separate SlideRoom portfolio application, while music requires an audition and musicianship exam on specific spring dates. A student admitted to UO but not into one of these specific majors is reclassified to "exploring" (undeclared) rather than rejected outright - make sure the family understands that outcome ahead of time rather than reading it as a full denial.
For the Clark Honors College, plan to write a second, distinct essay - the UO essay doesn't count twice
Clark Honors College requires its own essay focused specifically on intellectual curiosity and the breadth of a student's interests, and UO explicitly states its general application essay "cannot be used to fulfill" this separate Honors essay requirement. A student applying to Honors needs to budget time for genuinely new content, not a repurposed version of the main essay.
Use the optional second essay deliberately, not reflexively
UO's optional second essay (capped at 500 words, addressing a social-justice issue or how the student's differences will enrich the UO community) is explicitly not required - but CollegeVine and similar advisors note the first option is usually worth answering for the added personalization it provides, while the second ("additional information") option should only be used if there's something genuinely unaddressed elsewhere in the file. Help students decide deliberately rather than defaulting to "more is better."
Expert Insight:
Reported acceptance-rate figures for UO range from roughly 83% to 85% across sources, which can lead families to underinvest in the required essay - but because UO states test scores carry no defined weight in the decision even when submitted, that essay and the self-reported academic record are doing more of the actual evaluative work than the headline acceptance rate suggests.
UO Profile
Full Name
University of Oregon (UO)
City
Eugene
State
Oregon
ZIP Code
97403
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a UO Degree Worth It?
Whether UO is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $62,300, and graduates see a 3.81% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from UO Cost?
Listed tuition runs $32,636/year at UO. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $21,782.
At UO, 22% receive a Pell Grant and 30.9% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming UO on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a UO Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, UO graduates report a median income of $61,324, about 51% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Oregon. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | 1213 | 26 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | 1211 | 26 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Oregon. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Oregon. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
Degree Programs at UO
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About UO Admissions
University of Oregon graduates earn a moderate median salary of $61,324/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at University of Oregon is moderate, around $32,636/year; many students supplement with aid.
22.0% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. University of Oregon skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
University of Oregon's acceptance rate is 85.1%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted University of Oregon students is 3.73, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.43 puts you in the standard applicant pool at University of Oregon. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.33 or below makes admission tougher at University of Oregon, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
University of Oregon weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1257, and within the 1130–1360 range, keeps you competitive.
University of Oregon's deadline is November 1 (Early Action), with decisions out by December 15.
University of Oregon charges an application fee of 70; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's University of Oregon's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.