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Salem, Oregon

Turn Knowledge Into Action

Students in the Quad at Willamette University's Salem campus
A Willamette University student sitting by the Mill Stream and two more students walking across the bridge in the background at Salem campus.

“Our location matters,” said every college ever. But when there’s nothing to do, nowhere to work, and no way home for break? That “location” starts to feel pretty isolated. At Willamette, you’re in the heart of Oregon’s capital with walkable opportunities all around you, not miles away.

Why Salem is One of America’s Best Mid-Sized Cities

Willamette’s main campus puts you in downtown Salem, close to mountains, coastlines, forests, and a growing job market. With affordable housing, public transit, and easy access to internships, you’ll get the full Pacific Northwest experience without getting stuck on the sidelines.

Read more about learning in the Pacific Northwest
Check out HGTV’s list of the best mid-sized cities
Two Willamette students shopping in a record store in Salem, Oregon
Oregon State Capitol building

At Willamette, you don’t have to choose between competing and leading. You can do both. Our students’ athletic passion and academic ambition go hand in hand.

Our Students Don’t Just Win Medals

They Change Conversations

In the classroom, Tenley Grant BA’25 turned a public health thesis into a tool for positive change. And along the way, she found her voice and used it to make Willamette better for everyone.

Meet Tenley and learn how she made an impact
Tenley Grant BA’25
Tenley Grant BA’25
A record-setting hammer thrower, Tenley didn’t stop at breaking personal bests. She used her platform to elevate mental health conversations across campus and beyond.

Willamette’s dual degree programs let students earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s faster. That means less time in school, an earlier start in the workforce, and an extra year of earning power doing what they love.

Two Degrees in Four Years?

Jacob Did That

Jacob Plax BS/MS’25 was part of Willamette’s accelerated 3+1 Computer Science program. That meant advanced coursework, faculty mentorship, and real-world career prep, all on a faster timeline.

Learn how Jacob graduated with two degrees in four years
Jacob Plax BS/MS’25
Jacob Plax BS/MS’25
From organizing New Student Orientation to serving as a club president, Jacob discovered the confidence to lead, the skills to succeed, and the support of a community that always shows up.

Learning and Leading since 1842

For almost 200 years, Willamette has helped students turn their knowledge into action — right here in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.

heart of the pnw

Explore Willamette

Discover how you can turn knowledge into action through our undergraduate and graduate programs, or take a closer look at what it’s like to live and learn in the Pacific Northwest.