Pacific University acceptance rate & admissions

Pacific University admits 90% of applicants, most. For Fall 2023, 2,585 of 2,817 applicants were admitted and 400 enrolled. The school considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional). The middle half of Fall 2024 enrolled first-year students scored 900–1240 on the SAT or 18–29 on the ACT.

Check your chances at PU → Compare your GPA and scores with these ranges, and with other colleges.

Acceptance rate
90%

More selective than 32% of Oregon colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class

Test scores
Considered, not required

8% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 4% sent ACT scores.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Admitted students who enroll
15%

Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose PU over other offers.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Applicants, admits and enrollment

Applied2,817
Admitted2,585
Enrolled400

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.

PU SAT and ACT scores

Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, PU is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.

Test25th percentile75th percentile
SAT reading & writing480630
SAT math420610
ACT composite1829
SAT total (approx.)9001240

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.

PU admissions year over year

Entering classAcceptanceSAT readingSAT mathACTSource
Fall 202490%480–630420–61018–29College Scorecard
Fall 202392%500–640490–60017–28IPEDS

Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.

How selective is PU compared with other Oregon colleges?

PU has the 14th-lowest acceptance rate of 20 Oregon colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAcceptanceGraduationAvg. net price
10Linfield University85%70%$26,536
11University of Oregon88%72%$22,182
12Southern Oregon University89%43%$16,732
13University of Portland89%80%$28,210
14Pacific University90%67%$35,273
15Portland State University91%53%$9,552
16George Fox University94%72%$31,679
17Corban University94%61%$28,035
18Oregon Institute of Technology95%54%$15,706

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Oregon colleges →

Who enrolls at PU

First-year students who return for year two79%
First-year students from Oregon39%
Pell Grant recipients28%
First-generation students29%
Women / men56% / 44%
International students1%

College Scorecard; IPEDS

PU admissions questions

What is the PU acceptance rate?

Pacific University accepts 90% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 2,585 of 2,817 applicants were admitted.

Does PU require the SAT or ACT?

Pacific University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 8% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 4% submitted ACT scores.

What SAT score do you need for PU?

The middle 50% of Pacific University enrolled first-year students scored 900–1240 on the SAT and 18–29 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.

How many admitted students enroll at PU?

15% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (400 of 2,585).

Is PU getting harder to get into?

Pacific University accepted 90% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 92% for Fall 2023.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Pacific University overview