A tuition-free education at Willamette University will be available for Oregon students from families with an annual adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less, beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. The commitment — one that roughly half of all Oregon families would qualify for — covers Willamette College, the university’s historic residential undergraduate college in Salem, and its Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) in Portland.
The new Oregon Access Scholarship at Willamette College and the PNCA Oregon Arts Access Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition after the Federal Pell Grant and Oregon Opportunity Grant funds are applied. The scholarship is available for first-year and transfer students who apply this fall for enrollment in fall 2027. The scholarship is renewable for eight semesters for students who continue to meet eligibility requirements.
“Willamette is committed to improving access to quality liberal arts education for all students,” said Willamette President Steve Thorsett, “The financial piece of the higher education puzzle is a major deciding factor for many Oregon families. As the leading private liberal arts institution in the Pacific Northwest, we want every talented student in the state to know there is a place for you at Willamette.”
Addressing known barriers to students, like access to significant financial aid, serves the university’s long-standing commitment to increase access and build an academic community that reflects the full diversity of the region it serves.
All students at Willamette College and PNCA qualify for some kind of financial aid, and the university’s existing scholarship and grant programs put a Willamette education within reach for the majority of students who apply. The Oregon Access Scholarship removes the guesswork for families who need financial certainty the most.
“Too many families rule out a private university based on the published price alone. Once aid is applied, a Willamette education often costs a family the same or less than a state university. When Willamette is the right fit for a student, we want cost to be the last thing standing in the way. This program takes the guesswork out of that equation,” said William Mullen, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Willamette University.
Willamette’s private liberal arts setting is known for small student-to-faculty ratios, access to exceptional teachers, close faculty mentorships, the tight-knit campus community, and a holistic critical-thinking approach to education. All of these make the difference for many students when considering which higher education environment is right for them.
Willamette University has produced generations of leaders and changemakers who have shaped the region’s civic, legal and cultural fabric. This new opportunity will expand access within our state and continue to fulfill the university’s role as a catalyst for the next generation of great thinkers, doers and makers.
About Willamette University
Willamette University is a leading private liberal arts university in the Pacific Northwest with a mission to prepare graduates to turn knowledge into action. Its historic Salem campus is located across the street from the Oregon State Capitol and features an undergraduate liberal arts program and its campus in downtown Portland is home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Graduate programs in Salem and Portland include business, law, art and design, and computing and information sciences. Learn more at willamette.edu or pnca.willamette.edu.
