University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is the state's public flagship in Eugene, set on a tree-lined campus along the Willamette River and known for its nationally regarded School of Journalism and Communication and its deep track-and-field tradition at historic Hayward Field. Admission is accessible for a flagship — about 87% of roughly 41,400 applicants are admitted — and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.73 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1050–1320. The university is test-optional and draws nearly half of its first-year class from outside Oregon, concentrating its degrees in the social sciences, business, and journalism. The Duck Tuition Guarantee locks each entering cohort's tuition rate for five years, and about 94% of first-years live on campus.
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Oregon admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Action
Oregon offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Oregon is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How Oregon weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Oregon's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $29,991 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Oregon admissions
Is it hard to get into the University of Oregon?＋
No — the University of Oregon is among the more accessible public flagships, admitting about 87.4% of applicants in the most recent cycle from a pool of roughly 41,400. Enrolled first-years average a high school GPA near 3.73, and the rigor of your course load and academic GPA are the two factors weighed as very important, so solid grades in a challenging schedule are what matter most.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of Oregon?＋
Enrolled first-year students average a high school GPA of about 3.73, so a mix of mostly A's and B's puts you in range. There is no hard cutoff: academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record are both rated very important in the review, while class rank is only considered.
Does the University of Oregon require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — the University of Oregon is test-optional, so you can apply without submitting scores. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1050–1320 on the SAT and 22–29 on the ACT; standardized test scores are weighed only as a considered factor, well below GPA and course rigor.
Is a 1300 SAT good enough for the University of Oregon?＋
Yes — a 1300 sits in the upper half of enrolled first-years, near the 75th-percentile mark of 1320. The middle 50% scored 1050–1320 on the SAT (22–29 ACT), and because the University of Oregon is test-optional with scores only considered, a 1300 strengthens an application without being required.
What are my chances of getting into the University of Oregon from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants are actually admitted at a slightly higher rate than Oregon residents: in the most recent cycle, out-of-state students were admitted at 89.2% (28,417 of 31,873 applicants) versus 88.1% for in-state applicants (7,064 of 8,018). International applicants face a notably lower bar, admitted at 45.2% (667 of 1,477). State residency is only a considered factor in the review, not a heavily weighted one, which explains why in-state and out-of-state odds are nearly identical.
How much does the University of Oregon cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $17,475 for Oregon residents and $47,466 for out-of-state students, with on-campus housing and food adding roughly $18,183. About 46% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average need-based package near $17,082, and the Duck Tuition Guarantee locks each entering cohort's tuition and fees for five years.
Does the application essay matter at the University of Oregon?＋
Yes — the University of Oregon rates the application essay as an important factor, ranking it above test scores, recommendations, and extracurriculars, which are only considered. With course rigor and GPA the only very important factors, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest places to add depth to your application.
What are the most popular majors at the University of Oregon?＋
The social sciences and business and marketing are the two largest areas, each accounting for about 16% of bachelor's degrees, followed by communication and journalism at roughly 13%. Psychology and the biological and life sciences are also popular, reflecting the university's strength in the social sciences and its nationally regarded journalism program.
Source: University of Oregon Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Oregon. Banner photo by Rick Obst, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).