Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Portland, Oregon
95.4% Acceptance Rate
University of Portland — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
95.4%Acceptance Rate
3.66Avg GPA
1277Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$69,183Annual Cost
$82,804Grad Salary
18.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
95.4%
Avg GPA
3.66
Avg SAT
1277
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SAT Middle 50%
1190–1356
ACT Middle 50%
25–30
Need-Based Aid
18.6% receive Pell
University of Portland is a private, Catholic liberal arts university in Oregon that is known for its academic rigor, community engagement, and focus on the development of the whole person. Admissions are competitive and holistic, seeking students who display high intellectual potential, character, and a commitment to service within a values-centered community. The university values applicants who show they can engage in deep critical inquiry while remaining grounded in the institution's commitment to ethical reflection.
Successful applicants should emphasize their participation in academic and extracurricular organizations that showcase their leadership or initiative. Because the university encourages a blend of theory and practice, providing evidence of projects or roles that demonstrate a student's ambition will strengthen the application significantly. A clear articulation of how the student intends to use a liberal arts foundation to achieve their specific career aspirations is essential, as the admissions committee values students who are both ambitious and mission-aligned.
University of Portland Acceptance Rate
University of Portland runs an open-access admission policy. With a 95.4% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
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 — 95.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.21
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Portland Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for University of Portland is November 1 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 82 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 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.
University of Portland GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at University of Portland is 3.66. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.36 and 3.66? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.86–4.06.University of Portland GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.26 – 3.45
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.25
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No personal essay and no letter of recommendation are required for first-year applicants in the current cycle - a change from earlier years' required "Why UP" essay.
- Moreau Pathway Program guarantees admission plus a minimum $20,500/year renewable scholarship for qualifying seniors at partner Catholic high schools (3.3+ GPA).
- Test-optional; only about 13% of admitted students submit SAT/ACT scores.
- BSN Nursing has a firm February 15 deadline (no late/space-available exception) and requires Chemistry completed before the program starts; internal transfer into Nursing from another major is highly competitive with no guaranteed spot.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
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 University of Portland
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Portland's verified institutional data
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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 Portland Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if University of Portland is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into University of Portland Without SAT or ACT?
University of Portland considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Portland Average SAT Score: 1277
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Portland is 1277 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1277 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1356 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Portland allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1190, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at University of Portland. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 617 | 570 | 663 |
| SAT Reading | 657 | 620 | 693 |
| SAT Composite | 1277 | 1190 | 1356 |
Below 1190, you're behind most admitted students; at 1356 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1300
Can I get into University of Portland with a 1350 SAT?
A 1350 SAT puts you ahead of most of University of Portland's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
University of Portland ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at University of Portland is 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 26 | 24 | 27 |
| ACT English | 27 | 23 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 30 |
Can I get into University of Portland with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of University of Portland's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at University of Portland.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of Portland
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
University of Portland's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Move fast if you're at a Moreau Pathway school
UP's Moreau Pathway Program grants non-binding guaranteed admission plus a guaranteed, renewable minimum $20,500/year scholarship to seniors at participating Catholic high schools with a 3.3+ GPA and 16 completed academic units - bypassing the general applicant pool entirely, with direct entry into their chosen major (Nursing excepted, which still requires Chemistry). Confirm whether your high school is on UP's current partner list before defaulting to the standard Common App route, since this program is not automatically applied and requires its own application.
Recalibrate your effort now that the essay is gone
For the current first-year cycle, UP requires no personal essay and no letter of recommendation - a real change from the previously required 250-word "Why UP" supplement. With those two variables removed, GPA, course rigor, and (if submitted) test scores carry disproportionately more weight in review. Since only about 13% of admitted students submit test scores, a strong SAT/ACT becomes an unusually effective differentiator precisely because so few applicants are using it.
Apply direct-entry Nursing, don't plan to switch in later
BSN admission has its own firm February 15 deadline with no late or space-available exception (unlike every other major, which UP reviews on a rolling space-available basis after that date). Internal transfer into the BSN program from another UP major is explicitly "very competitive" with "no guarantee," competing against external transfer applicants. A student set on nursing should apply directly as a first-year BSN applicant with Chemistry already completed or clearly scheduled - not as "undecided" hoping to add nursing later.
Make your Holy Cross fit visible where it still counts
Because the essay and recommendation letter are gone from the general file, the places where mission-fit still gets evaluated are Early Action timing (decisions in about 4 weeks), the separate Honors Program application (also due Feb 15), and any optional materials submitted through the portal. Applying EA and explicitly referencing the Congregation of Holy Cross tradition or Moreau Center service values in optional "additional information" fields is one of the few remaining ways to signal genuine fit in a file that's now mostly numbers.
Expert Insight:
The most damaging mistake is misreading UP's roughly 70% overall acceptance rate as applying to Nursing. Students apply "undecided" or to another major assuming they can move into BSN sophomore year, then discover internal transfer is highly competitive with no guaranteed slot - by which point they've also missed the firm Feb 15 nursing deadline and the Chemistry prerequisite window.
University of Portland Profile
Full Name
University of Portland
City
Portland
State
Oregon
ZIP Code
97203-5798
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a University of Portland Degree Worth It?
At $69,183/year against a $82,804 median graduate salary, University of Portland is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $67,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.63%.
How much does a degree from University of Portland Cost?
The sticker price is $69,183/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
18.6% of students receive a Pell Grant and 40% take federal loans at University of Portland. File your FAFSA early and list University of Portland as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a University of Portland Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $82,804. That's about 104% 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 Portland. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| 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 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, GA | 1254 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Portland. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Mercer University | Macon, GA | 1280 | 28 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Portland. 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 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Degree Programs at University of Portland
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Portland Admissions
University of Portland graduates typically earn around $82,804 a year, on the higher end depending on industry.
At about $69,183 a year, University of Portland's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
University of Portland's Pell Grant rate of 18.6% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 95.4%, University of Portland's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Portland average a 3.66 GPA.
University of Portland doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.36 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.26, University of Portland becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at University of Portland — aim above 1277, ideally within the 1190–1356 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for University of Portland is November 1 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.