Founded in 1901 by Archbishop Alexander Christie and operated by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the University of Portland is a premier private Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. Spanning a scenic 150-acre bluff campus overlooking the Willamette River and downtown skyline, UP connects Holy Cross liberal arts traditions with engineering, business, nursing, and education. You can examine its founding origins, Catholic heritage, and blufftop expansion through the University of Portland Wikipedia historical entry.
When you study at UP, you enter a supportive academic setting characterized by small class sizes, values-centered education, and strong residential community bonds. Living on the bluff in North Portland places you minutes away from local coffee shops, parks, and downtown commercial centers.
Premier Academic Programs
UP organizes its instruction across five specialized schools holding national reputations:
- Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr. School of Business: AACSB-accredited business school famous for corporate finance, marketing analytics, entrepreneurship, and operations. Explore degree options on the Pamplin School of Business portal.
- Shiley School of Engineering: Top-ranked undergraduate engineering school offering civil, mechanical, electrical, and computer science degrees.
- School of Nursing and Health Innovations: Prepares clinical nurses and public health managers through advanced simulation laboratories.
- School of Education: Prepares compassionate teachers, counselors, and educational leaders through clinical urban practice.
- College of Arts and Sciences: Serves as the academic core across biological sciences, digital media, environmental studies, and philosophy.
"Veritas et Virtus, translated from Latin as Truth and Virtue, serves as the official motto of the University of Portland."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on the Anchor plaza, Waldschmidt Hall, and the Dundon-Berchtold Hall academic quad. School spirit revolves around Wally Pilot, the energetic costumed riverboat captain mascot representing Portland Pilots athletic teams in NCAA Division I West Coast Conference sports. You can read about spirit traditions and mascot history on the official Portland Pilots Athletics portal. Cheering inside Merlo Field for nationally ranked soccer matches and joining over 100 student clubs creates a close-knit campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Environmental Ethics
UP operates an active undergraduate research framework emphasizing bio-engineering and river ecology:
- Shiley Engineering Laboratories: State-of-the-art facility featuring robotics testing labs, wind tunnels, and material testing rigs.
- Environmental Studies River Lab: Research facility situated along the Willamette River evaluating aquatic health and urban stream restoration. Learn more via UP Research Operations.
- Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life: Fosters scholarly research and interdisciplinary symposiums on ethics and culture.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of World Cup champions, corporate executives, authors, and public servants, including:
- Megan Rapinoe: Two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and Ballon d'Or winner who starred for UP soccer.
- Christine Sinclair: World's all-time leading international goalscorer in soccer history and Olympic gold medalist who graduated from UP.
- Kunooz Al-Zakwani: Prominent international media executive and publisher who earned her degree at UP.
- Muriel Lezak: World-renowned neuropsychologist and author who completed her undergraduate studies at UP.
UP provides generous merit scholarship coverage and need-based financial aid for admitted domestic and international students. Review full admission standards and application steps on the official UP Admissions portal.