Founded in 1876, the University of Oregon (UO) is the second-oldest public university the state. It is a four-year, co-educational public university located in beautiful Eugene, Oregon. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a “very high research activity” university, the current University of Oregon campus is spread over 295 acres which hold sixty major buildings as well as 500 different varieties of trees.
| Overall Score (about) | 91.5 |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $27,366 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| ACT / SAT 75%ile scores | 28 / 1290 |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 18 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 85% / 44% |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 22,644 |
It’s fairly easy for most students to find a field of study that they’re passionate about at the University of Oregon, considering that UO is comprised of eight distinct schools and colleges: the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles H. Lundquist College of Business, the College of Education, the Robert D. Clark Honors College, the School of Journalism and Communication, the School of Law, and the School of Music and Dance.
All undergraduate students are required to take core courses in the humanities, English, sciences, and social sciences. According to the 2010 edition of U.S. World Report Ultimate College Guide, the most popular majors at the University of Oregon include business and commerce, journalism, political science and government, psychology, and sociology.
UO offers several degree programs with a global emphasis. In fact, each year, nearly two thousand students from over 80 countries study at the University of Oregon, and nearly 25% of University of Oregon graduates studied abroad during their years as a UO student. UO students have enjoyed studying in Amsterdam, Beijing, London, Rome, and many other cities across the globe.
The University of Oregon is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and UO degree programs are accredited by various degree-specific accreditation organizations.
UO is considered selective, with approximately 85% of students receiving acceptance. Students who are interested in attending the University of Oregon can apply for undergraduate admission directly on the university’s website. A modest non-refundable application fee is required, along with official transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, an application essay, and an optional personal circumstances explanation if deemed necessary.
It’s important to note that extracurricular activities will not compensate for low grades or sub-par course schedules. Applicants are evaluated by the University of Oregon admissions office on many different levels, including but not limited to their motivation, their ability to enhance the diversity of the university, their academic potential, and special talents in addition to the strength of their academic course work and grades earned, class rank, and standardized test scores.
Standard undergraduate admissions requirements are available on the University of Oregon website. Applicants are required to graduate from a standard or accredited high school; earn at least a C- in at least fifteen college preparatory courses during high school; maintain a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Graduate students, international students, transfer students and any other students with special needs or circumstances can receive detailed admissions information by contacting the UO Admissions office directly.
If you’re wondering if UO is “the school for you,” have no fear! Potential students are encouraged to visit the University of Oregon for campus tours and information sessions. UO hosts campus tours and admissions information sessions Mondays through Saturdays. Walking tours give students and their families the chance to see the main campus while learning about admissions requirements, financial aid and scholarships, campus housing, and more.
University of Oregon students may be eligible for financial aid in the form of grants, loans, work-study programs, and scholarships. UO reminds students that if receive any form of financial aid, they are responsible for completing their degree in a timely and efficient manner.
To be considered for financial aid, students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which becomes available online each January 1. UO’s priority deadline for submitting the FAFSA is March 1 but because some types of financial aid are limited, students are encouraged to submit the form as early as possible.
The University of Oregon Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships offers a financial aid guide known as Start 2 Finish. It is considered a “road map to successfully navigating your way through the financial aid process,” and was created to help students and their families receive financial aid and scholarships that will help pay for an education at the University of Oregon. One-on-one assistance and more information regarding financial aid is available from UO’s Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
PathwayOregon is a program that ensures tuition and fees for academically qualified, lower-income Oregon residents will be covered by federal, state and university grants for four years. There is no formal PathwayOregon application process, but students must only be admitted as freshmen and must meet the lower-income eligibility criteria. PathwayOregon recipients can receive tuition and fees for twelve terms of attendance along with academic and personal support until their graduation.
Most students attending the University of Oregon are full-time college students, with a near equal split of men and women. The university’s diverse student body is comprised of students from every state in the nation as well as 85 different countries.
It’s safe to say that there is a group for just about everyone at the University of Oregon.Over 250 different student organizations can be found at the University of Oregon. These organizations include a mixture of educational societies, social clubs, fraternities, sororities, and more, such as the African Student Association, the Chinese Philanthropic Leadership Association, the Designated Driver Shuttle, the Duck Street Dance Club, the European Student Association, the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer Alliance, the Math and Science Organization, among others.
The University of Oregon’s Ducks are NCAA Division I sports teams that are part of the Pacific 10 Conference. UO athletic programs have earned 14 NCAA team championships over the years, along with 60 NCAA individual champions in various track and field events.
Men’s sports at UO include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track and field. Women’s sports teams at UO include acrobatics and tumbling, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
The Ducks proudly wear the school colors of green and yellow, and the current Oregon Duck mascot is based on Disney’s Donald Duck through a special licensing agreement. In 2010, Disney and UO reached an agreement that would allow The Duck to make more public appearances. The Oregon version of Donald wears a green and yellow beanie bearing the word “Oregon.”
UO’s annual Oregon Bach Festival is a popular donor-supported program and the only major musical festival affiliated with an American university. The Oregon Bach Festival was founded in 1970 and now draws hundreds of musicians and over 40,000 attendees each year.
A professional choir and orchestra perform major works by Bach as well as other composers. Well-known performers have included Bobby McFerrin, Garrison Keillor and Thomas Quasthoff, among others.
With a population of just over 150,000 as of the 2010 U.S. Census, Eugene is the second-largest city in the state of Oregon. Eugene is known for its focus on the arts as well as its beautiful natural surroundings. In fact, appropriately enough, the city’s slogan is “A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors.” Eugene is located about 50 miles east of the Oregon coast, and bicycling, running and jogging, rafting, and kayaking are all popular recreational activities. Eugene is just a two-hour drive from the metropolitan city of Portland.
Many distinguished professionals have graduated from UO. Notable University of Oregon alumni include:
Because the University of Oregon is committed to environmental sustainability, parking on campus is limited. Many students, faculty, and staff commute to UO by bus, bicycle, or on foot! Visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes early for scheduled events to ensure enough time to find a parking space.
The 1978 cult classic National Lampoon’s Animal House was filmed on the University of Oregon campus and in the surrounding area. The building that was used as the exterior of the Delta House (which actually belonged to the University of Oregon Phi Sigma Kappa chapter) was demolished in 1986 but the interior Delta House scenes were filmed in the Sigma Nu house, which still exists today.
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