The undergraduate program is able to be personal with a student-faculty ratio of 10:1. Students are able to design their own academic paths. The school was rated 60th among American liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report for 2009.
The Willamette University Bearcats compete at the NCAA Division III level. This is not a great sports scene. High School students looking to play professionally should look to the BCS conference colleges.