About

About University of Portland

catholic holy cross missionnursing and health focussmall class sizesaccessible admissions

University of Portland is a private university in Portland, OR, known for its catholic holy cross mission, nursing and health focus, and small class sizes. With an acceptance rate of 93%, UP is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 813 students each year. UP is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1228–1410, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. UP offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $32,799 per year; the sticker price of $67,676 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

University of Portland acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

93%
Overall Accept Rate
1319
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1228 – 1410 (test optional)

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to University of Portland

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
University of Portland is a Catholic university in the Holy Cross tradition, which emphasizes educating the whole person, faith, and service. If any part of your background connects to service, community, or questions of meaning and vocation, weave that into your essays because this context genuinely resonates with UP's identity.
Demonstrated Interest
UP sits on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River and has a tight-knit residential campus culture, so visiting in person or attending a virtual information session signals real interest and helps you write more specifically about why UP fits you beyond just Portland's city appeal.

Get a tailored strategy for University of Portland. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What University of Portland actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$68k/yr$20.1k
30k-48k~$68k/yr$16.6k
48k-75k~$68k/yr$23.9k
75k-110k~$68k/yr$27.0k
110k+~$68k/yr$37.3k

Not sure what University of Portland would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for University of Portland and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to University of Portland's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

80%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$68k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
11:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
3,726
Undergrad Enrollment
University of Portland Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch