Frequently Asked Questions

We have an Early Action deadline of December 1.  If you meet that deadline with all submitted documents, you will receive an admissions decision within four weeks. You may also apply by our Regular Decision deadline of February 1 (see application checklist). After these dates, we will accept applications on a space available basis.

Accepted first-year students who wish to attend UP must confirm their enrollment by May 1.

University of Portland will accept both SAT and ACT scores. For applicants applying through Fall 2025, UP will be test-optional.

Based on the 2022-2023 first-year class, the middle 50% for the SAT was a score of 1220 to 1380 and a middle 50% ACT composite score of 27 to 31. We will superscore all SAT tests and take the highest composite ACT score. 

There are three ways to submit your test scores for the purpose of admission. Record self reported scores on your application, download the score report (PDF) through your CollegeBoard/ACT account and send to admission_documents@up.edu, or have the testing agency submit your scores for you (our ACT code is 3500 and our SAT code is 4847).

*If self reported scores are used for admission purposes, you are required to submit official test scores if you decide to attend University of Portland.

First-Year applicants must submit the following for admission consideration: 

• Application
• Official high school transcript(s)
• SAT or ACT scores (optional for applicants through Fall 2025)
• One letter of recommendation (from a high school counselor OR teacher)
• Essay

Transfer non-nursing applicants must submit the following for admission consideration:

• Application
• Official college transcripts from each college attended
• If the applicant has earned fewer than 26 semester hours or 39 quarter hours in college:
  • Official final high school transcript
  • SAT or ACT test scores (optional) 

Transfer nursing applicants: Review your application checklist on the School of Nursing pages.

International Students: Review your first-year application checklist or transfer application checklist on the International Student pages.

There is no application fee for new First-Year and Transfer students applying for entry terms through Fall 2024.

The first-year class for the 2022-2023 year entered with a middle 50% SAT score of 1220 to 1380, middle 50% ACT composite score of 27 to 31, and an average GPA of 3.70 (cumulative and unweighted.)

A minimum of 16 units in academic subjects is necessary for admission.  Course work in the following areas is suggested:

English Composition - 4 years
Mathematics - 3-4 years
Laboratory Science - 3-4 years
Social Sciences/History - 3-4 years
International Language - 2-4 years

First-year applicants interested in nursing must 1) complete a high school or college level general chemistry course prior to beginning the program, and 2) declare nursing as their intended major on the application.

Application: You may apply to University of Portland using either the Common App or UP application on our website. More information about answers to specific application questions can be found through our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Scholarships and financial assistance: All accepted students are evaluated for merit based scholarships, no additional application is needed. If you are accepted, you will work directly with the Office of Financial Aid to determine eligibility for different types of financial assistance. 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available starting in December 2023 for the 2024-2025 academic year. The FAFSA will look at your prior-prior year taxes (PPY), meaning you will fill out the FAFSA with tax information from two years ago.

To find out more, visit the Office of Financial Aid FAQ page.

Students on the waitlist have been neither accepted nor denied. University of Portland’s Office of Admissions places students on the waitlist for one of two reasons:

• The student has potential for success at UP, but the Office of Admissions has concerns with the applicant’s academic record.
• The Office of Admissions believes the student to be academically qualified. However, due to the timing of the application review, there is limited space available in the future class.

UP graduates take part in a variety of post-graduate volunteer programs. The Moreau Center for Service and Leadership can help you connect you with various volunteer opportunities.

In compliance with the Clery Act and the amended Higher Education Opportunity Act, University of Portland’s Annual Crime and Fire Report was published and made available to all members of the University community, and to prospective students and employees.

University of Portland seeks to create a community that is educated in its approach to safety by providing an annual security and fire report detailing all relevant safety and security policies and publishing crime and policy-violation statistics for the last three calendar years.  The report is available online at https://www.up.edu/campussafety/files/2019-annual-crime--fire-report.pdf.

A paper copy is available upon request by contacting Campus Safety at 503.943.7161.

UP will no longer require, but strongly recommends, students, faculty, and staff be fully vaccinated. More information about vaccine compliance can be found on the Health Center site.