One of the Best 376 Colleges

The Princeton Review named Willamette one of the nation's Best 376 Colleges and one of the "Best in the West." According to the guide, "Willamette's knowledgeable professors are dedicated to what they teach and are genuinely interested in helping students learn," and the university offers "serious academics without snobbery."

Willamette also was featured in 2010 as one of 100 Best Value Colleges. The primary areas of consideration were academic quality, cost of attendance and financial aid.

One of America's Top Colleges

Forbes ranked Willamette one of the top 100 universities nationally and 15th in the West. The ranking "focuses on the things that matter the most to students: quality of teaching, great career prospects, graduation rates and low levels of debt."

One of the country's best universities

Willamette is featured in the 2012 Fiske Guide to Colleges, which highlights the country's best and most interesting colleges and universities. Willamette's professors get "high marks for being amazing, engaging and supportive."

One of the top liberal arts colleges for contribution to the public good

Washington Monthly ranked Willamette 27th among the top liberal arts colleges in the country for contributions to scientific discovery, the ability to instill a sense of giving back among the student body, and recruiting and graduating high-ability students with financial need.

Top tier of liberal arts colleges

U.S. News & World Report ranked Willamette University in the top tier of liberal arts colleges nationally in its 2012 edition of "Best Colleges." The magazine’s ranking formula takes account of factors such as SAT scores, student/faculty ratio, peer reputation and alumni giving.

U.S. News also named Willamette among the top 11 up-and-coming National Liberal Arts Colleges in 2011 for making the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty and student life.

One of the best value liberal arts colleges

Kiplinger's Personal Finance named Willamette among the best values in private liberal arts colleges nationwide for combining "outstanding quality with affordability." Willamette is ranked 53rd nationally. The list considers criteria such as average student debt, standardized test scores, students per faculty, graduation rate and net price.

First in the nation for sustainability activities

The National Wildlife Federation recognized Willamette as first in the nation for sustainability activities. According to NWF, “Willamette is committed to energy efficiency and conservation, greener transportation, environmentally friendly landscaping practices, as well as to orienting personnel and faculty to the sustainability goals of the campus.”

One of the nation's best universities for exemplary service

The Corporation for National and Community Service named Willamette to the 2012 Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. In 2009, Willamette was one of only six colleges and universities nationwide to earn the Presidential Award, the honor roll's highest award. Willamette students, faculty and staff volunteer about 149,000 hours annually.

Most-service oriented: a top school for encouraging students to give back

Newsweek ranked Willamette 12th among the nation's colleges and universities that "have the most service-minded students, faculty, and policies." The Newsweek ranking took into factors such as alumni involvment in the Peace Corps, students participation in community service, and the integration of service into classes.

Among the top “Cool Schools” for commitment to environment

Sierra, the official magazine of the Sierra Club, named Willamette one of the nation’s top “Cool Schools” in 2009 and 2010 for a commitment to the environment and sustainability. Willamette scored particularly well in the areas of academics, purchasing, food and administration.

One of the top producers of student Fulbright fellows

For three of the past four years, Willamette has been one of the top producers of U.S. Fulbright student fellows, according to the Institute of International Education. Since 2002, 25 Willamette students and recent alumni have earned U.S. Fulbright fellowships.

Among the top 20 small schools for Peace Corps volunteers

Willamette consistently ranks in the top 20 small schools in the country for number of alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Since the Peace Corps was established in 1961, more than 300 Willamette alumni have joined its ranks.

One of the Best Value Law Schools

Willamette University College of Law ranked among the Best Value Law Schools in the U.S. in PreLaw magazine. The schools on the list “carry a low price tag and are able to prepare their students incredibly well for today’s competitive job market.” Only one private law school in the country received a higher grade than Willamette — most other schools on the list were at public universities.

Ranked highly for number of Super Lawyers

In its inaugural ranking of U.S. law schools, Super Lawyers placed Willamette’s College of Law above most other area law schools. The ranking focused on the quality of lawyers produced by the schools and was based on the number of alumni named to state and regional Super Lawyers lists. Willamette had 193 law graduates named Super Lawyers in 2009.

One of the top green law schools

Willamette's College of Law earned recognition as one of the "Top Green Law Schools" by The National Jurist. Willamette earned a cum laude rating, and was one of 21 schools mentioned in the article. Schools were evaluated on green practices, campus environment, building trends and curriculum. 

Among the top 40 law schools for faculty productivity

A study by researchers at Rogers Williams University School of Law ranked law schools outside U.S. News & World Report’s top 50 for their per capita faculty productivity, and Willamette’s law school came in 32nd. The study examined the number of articles tenure-track faculty published in top journals.

One of the top 75 Best Business Schools

Forbes magazine named AGSM as a Best Business School, a list that recognizes the top 75 schools in the U.S. for their return on investment to graduates. Willamette is the only school in Oregon and one of only two schools in the northwest to make Forbes’ 2011 list.

A top 25 MBA program

The Aspen Institute’s Beyond Grey Pinstripes recognizes MBA programs committed to ethics, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Willamette’s MBA is ranked #23 in the world and among the top 10 for its business impact, which measures how courses prepare students to lead for-profit businesses that improve social and environmental conditions.

Among the top 15 programs for preparing students for marketing

The Princeton Review named Willamette’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management a Top 15 Program for Preparing Students for Marketing. The ranking is based on a survey of 19,000 students worldwide.

The Willamette MBA program is also among the Princeton Review’s Best 301 Business Schools.

Nationally accredited for excellence in teacher education

Willamette’s Graduate School of Education has earned initial accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, a body that sets rigorous profession standards for teacher education programs.