Founded in 1849, Pacific University is a diverse learning community offering a unique combination of nationally recognized undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the arts and sciences, education, business, optometry and the health professions.

The Pacific Difference

Pacific’s focus on teaching and learning in a close nurturing environment leads to genuine transformation in students’ lives.

About one in four of our students — from freshmen to future doctors — are the first in their families to attend college. And our students experience greater socioeconomic growth as a result of their educations than their peers at other colleges in the Pacific Northwest.

At Pacific, students build deep personal relationships with friends, mentors, faculty members, and academic and career counselors. 

Our students mix their rigorous academic experiences with meaningful research, community engagement and life experiences, helping them become successful and active citizens and community leaders.

3,937 students
1,893 undergraduate students
2,026 graduate students
18 non-degree seeking students
(2017-2018 headcount)

38% 
of students attend classes outside Forest Grove

$40 million
institutional scholarships awarded annually

93%
of recent undergrad alumni are working, volunteering, or in graduate school

National Recognition

We put a premium on small classes and personal attention. We want our students to call Pacific “home.”

Meanwhile, outside of Pacific, people are calling us some great things too! Like “Best Value School” and “Best in the West.”

Pacific is consistently recognized by national news organizations for its quality.

• In 2017, we ranked 22nd among 141 institutions in U.S. News & World Report’s Regional Universities West Region.
• We also were on Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges — a list that includes only the top one-fifth of all undergraduate institutions.
• In 2018, Washington Monthly named us a "Best Bang for the Buck" school in the West.