Western Oregon University

www.wou.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$9,000

3.09% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$15,249

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

98.7%

2,898 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

3,857

78.8% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

44.8%

338 Graduates

About

Western Oregon University is a higher education institution located in Polk County, OR. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Oregon University were General Education (144 degrees awarded), General Psychology (131 degrees), and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (81 degrees).

In 2023, 1,187 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Oregon University. 67% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 33% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (741 degrees), 3.09 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (240 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Oregon University is $9,000, which is $−15,575 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Oregon University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 1,373 total borrowers.

Photo by Go Ikeda

Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Oregon University is $9,000, which is $15,575 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $15,249.

In 2023, 74% of undergraduate students attending Western Oregon University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 74% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$9,000

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Western Oregon University was $9,000. The cost of tuition at Western Oregon University is $−15,575 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Oregon University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$15,249

2023 Value

8.98%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Western Oregon University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,249. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Western Oregon University grew by 8.98%.

This chart compares the average net price of Western Oregon University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$10,889

Room and Board

$1,125

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Oregon University was of $10,889 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.95% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,125. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 6.25% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Western Oregon University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

74%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

74%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

74% of undergraduate students at Western Oregon University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 2.78% with respect to 2022, when 72% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Western Oregon University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Oregon University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 1373 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Western Oregon University received 2,898 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 11.2% annual growth. Out of those 2,898 applicants, 2,860 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 98.7% acceptance rate.

There were 3,857 students enrolled at Western Oregon University in 2023. 3% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Oregon University has an overall enrollment yield of 22.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

98.7%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

2,860

Accepted Out of 2,898

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Oregon University was 98.7% (2,860 admissions from 2,898 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 83.4%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 11.2%, while admissions grew by 5.19%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Oregon University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

Submission Percentage (2023)

Scores Submitted (2023)

3% of enrolled first-time students at Western Oregon University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Oregon University had a total enrollment of 3,857 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Western Oregon University is 3,038 students and the part-time enrollment is 819. This means that 78.8% of students enrolled at Western Oregon University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Oregon University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 59.5% White, 24% Hispanic or Latino, 6.04% Two or More Races, 3.03% Black or African American, 2.57% Asian, 1.43% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 1.06% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Western Oregon University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (38.8%), followed by White Male (18.8%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (15.9%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (48.7%), followed by White Male (22.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (9.29%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

78.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Oregon University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,857 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Oregon University is 3,038 and the part-time enrollment is 819. This means that 78.8% of students enrolled at Western Oregon University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Oregon University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

76%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Oregon University was 76%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), Western Oregon University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Oregon University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
2,294 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
925 enrolled students
Two or More Races
233 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Oregon University is 59.5% White, 24% Hispanic or Latino, 6.04% Two or More Races, 3.03% Black or African American, 2.57% Asian, 1.43% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 1.06% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 64 students (1.66%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 403 more women than men received degrees from Western Oregon University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Oregon University is white (741 degrees awarded). There were 3.09 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (240 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Oregon University is General Education (144 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (131 degrees) and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (81 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Oregon University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Language & Linguistics (58 degrees awarded), Education (337 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (110 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Oregon University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,690,947 people), Secondary school teachers (590,983 people), Education administrators (341,670 people), Other managers (275,775 people), and Postsecondary teachers (249,303 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Oregon University in 2023 are Language & Linguistics (58 degrees awarded), Education (337 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (110 degrees), English (35 degrees), and Psychology (131 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Oregon University are Surgeons, Physicians, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Photographic process workers & processing machine operators, and Financial examiners

The most specialized majors at Western Oregon University are Language & Linguistics (58 degrees awarded), Education (337 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (110 degrees), English (35 degrees), and Psychology (131 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Oregon University are Elementary & secondary schools (3,130,599 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (444,598 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (426,951 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (376,183 people), and Outpatient care centers (224,822 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Oregon University.

Most Common (2023)

General Education
144 degrees awarded
General Psychology
131 degrees awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
81 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Oregon University was General Education with 144 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Oregon University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

392

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

795

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 392 degrees were awarded to men at Western Oregon University, which is 0.493 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (795).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Oregon University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 35 degrees were awarded to men at Western Oregon University in Other Multidisciplinary Studies, which is 0.714 times less than the 49 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 125 degrees were awarded to men at Western Oregon University in General Education, which is 5.95 times more than the 21 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

27%

100% Completion Time

48%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 27% of students graduating from Western Oregon University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 48% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 50% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Male

Highest Graduation Rate (63.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Western Oregon University is Male and Asian (63.6% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.96% of graduates (10 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
741 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
240 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
41 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Oregon University is white (741 degrees awarded). There were 3.09 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (240 degrees).

4.04% of degree recipients (48 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
510 degrees awarded
White Male
231 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
158 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Oregon University is white female (510 degrees awarded). There were 2.21 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (231 degrees).

Operations

Western Oregon University employs 73 Professors, 52 Instructors and 50 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Oregon University are Female Professor (37), Male Professor (36), and Female Instructor (30).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Oregon University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 142 employees, Service, with 65 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 46 employees.

Salary Expenditure

$48.1M

2023 Salaries

4.52%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Western Oregon University paid a median of $48.1M in salaries, a 4.52% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.7% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 13.2% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$14.5M

Instructional Salaries

221

Number of Employees

In 2023, Western Oregon University paid a total of $14.5M to 221 employees working as instructors, which represents 30.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

73 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

142 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Oregon University were Professor with 73 employees, Instructor with 52 employees, and Assistant professor with 50 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Oregon University were Business and Financial Operations with 142 employees, Service with 65 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 46 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Female Professor
Male Professor
Female Instructor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Oregon University was Female Professor with 37 employees, Male Professor with 36 employees, and Female Instructor with 30 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Western Oregon University.

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