Study Biology at Pacific University
Study biology at the No. 1 private research university in the Northwest!
Pacific undergraduate students gain immediate research experience alongside expert professors and mentors. Students also complete internships with organizations like the Oregon Zoo, Oregon Health Science University, state and federal wildlife agencies, and healthcare clinics.
Biology students often take a pre-med route, preparing for graduate school in programs like Pacific’s College of Health Professions.
No. 1 Private Research University in Northwest
National Science Foundation data ranks Pacific as the No. 1 private research university in the Northwest — and No. 9 in the Far West, just behind institutions like Stanford and the California Institute of Technology.
What sets Pacific apart is the opportunity for undergraduate students to participate in that research alongside their faculty members.
“Because it’s such a small campus, you’re able to form meaningful relationships with your professors. The research I’m doing right here has been an amazing experience I probably wouldn’t have got at a larger university,” said recent biology alumnus Rylee Trendell ’19. “Pacific has more opportunity to gain experience doing a variety of studies alongside your professor.”
Top-Ranked University in the Pacific Northwest
U.S. News & World Report calls Pacific one of the best colleges in the country, as well as a Best Value School.
Students enjoy living and learning in the Pacific Northwest, just a quick trip away from downtown Portland, the Cascade Mountains, or the Oregon Coast.
They build close relationships with faculty members, who put teaching first and serve as mentors. Students also benefit from the well-rounded liberal arts curriculum, gaining hands-on experience, engaging in volunteerism and activism, and becoming critical thinkers and community leaders.
Merit & Need Scholarships
About 99 percent of all Pacific undergraduates receive financial aid to attend college. We offer need- and merit-based scholarships. Get started just by showing up: High school seniors who attend a virtual Senior Preview Scholarship Day this fall and complete an online activity can earn up to $4,000 ($1,000 per year for four years) in scholarships!