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Pacific University
Pacific University admits nearly everyone — 89.6% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Pacific University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Pacific University occupies suburban Forest Grove, OR — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $105,018 four years out. Faculty pay averages $109,548 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,516 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 79.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 990 and 1240 — below the OR middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Pacific University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 990–1240 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Pacific University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 580 | 640 |
| SAT Math | 490 | 530 | 600 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 23 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Pacific University received 2,817 applications and admitted 2,585 (91.8%), with 400 enrolling.
How Pacific University compares
| Pacific University | Oregon median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 89.6% | 88.3% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $56,374 | $22,220 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $60,583 | $57,671 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Pacific University student earns $60,583 — 5% above the Oregon median of $57,671 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Pacific University lists tuition at $56,374 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Pacific University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $56,374 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,516 undergraduates, Pacific University is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
67% graduate within six years. Roughly 33% don't — ask a Pacific University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Pacific University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $105,018 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $78,641 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $76,880 |
| Criminology | $64,029 |
| Psychology, General | $62,484 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,696 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $56,053 |
| Public Health | $55,116 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $53,674 |
| Education, General | $53,333 |
| Biology, General | $53,092 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $47,202 |
Median earnings for these 12 Pacific University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $60,583 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 44 additional Pacific University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Pacific University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 990–1240 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 89.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Pacific University's acceptance rate?
91.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,585 admitted from 2,817 applicants.
How much does Pacific University cost?
At Pacific University, published tuition is $56,374 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Pacific University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Pacific University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $60,583 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Oregon
- University of Oregon — 88.3% admitted
- Oregon Institute of Technology — 95% admitted
- Portland State University — 90.9% admitted
- University of Portland — 89.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.