U.S. News & World Report puts Pacific among the top National Universities in the country overall, as well as for value, veterans and social mobility.
About Pacific University
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.
Printable Pacific University At a Glance 2020
3,763 students
1,746 undergraduate students
2,017 graduate students
(2021-2022 headcount)
39%
of students attend classes outside Forest Grove
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.
- Pacific is the No. 1 private research university in the Pacific Northwest and ranks No. 8 on the West Coast, among the likes of USC and Stanford.
- We're among U.S. News & World Report’s top National Universities for 2021, plus named a Best Value School, Best College for Veterans, and Top Performer for Social Mobility.
- We also were on Washington Monthly's list of 2021 top colleges, ranking No. 36 in the country for service, and we're the only Oregon school among the Best Colleges for Student Voting.
- In 2019, Pacific earned a silver ranking for sustainability under the national STARS program.
Headlines
Pacific University is among a select group of campuses around the country and the only institution in Oregon designated as a Voter Friendly Campus for 2021-2022. The designation is the result in part of the university’s participation in the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge for Pacific Votes spearheaded by the Tom McCall Center for Civic Engagement.
“The true beneficiaries of the accreditation are students who can pursue their Pacific University business and MBA degrees with confidence and pride," said Associate Dean Jennifer Yruegas.