Linfield College

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Flexible, First-Rate Liberal Arts Education at Linfield

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Ranked 104th nationally by Washington Monthly, Linfield College is a private, nonprofit Baptist NWC member in Northwest Oregon that confers 57 bachelor’s majors and 48 minors, including 13 online options, plus a Pre-College Program at an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. For example, the Good Samaritan School has a 125-credit, CCNE-accredited Nursing Major (B.S.) with opportunities to intern at Legacy Health, join Sigma Theta Tau, semester in Ecuador, and practice in the Peterson Hall Simulation Lab. Chaired by Dr. Brenda DeVore Marshall, the Communication Arts Major (B.A.) plots a 125-credit, four-year curriculum where undergrads can compete on the Forensics Team, enter the Spanish-Language Debate, engage in the Speaking Center, and minor in creative writing.

Online on CatNet since Fall 2019, the History Major (B.A.) has delivered a 125-credit, adult-oriented track with digital Nicholson Library access and Phi Alpha Theta membership during 14-week Web courses from World Civilization to Latin American Studies for 91.2 percent job placement. Directed by Dr. Anna Song, the 125-credit Music Major (B.A.) provides four NASM-accredited specializations for Performance, Music Education, History & Culture, or Composition with hands-on Chamber Ensemble practice and Delkin Recital Hall concerts.

Other Linfield programs include the Chemistry Major (B.S.), Philosophy Major (B.A.), Religious Studies Major (B.A.), Sport Management Major (B.S.), Mathematics Major (B.S.), Sociology Major (B.A.), Health Education Major (B.A.), and Wine Studies Major (B.S.).

About Linfield College

Linfield College originated in 1849 when Senator Sebastian C. Adams developed six acres to start Oregon City College for the local Baptist Educational Society. On January 30, 1858, the Oregon Territorial Legislature officially chartered the Baptist College at McMinnville. In 1883, Samuel and Mahala Cozine donated land to erect its historic Pioneer Hall. The next year, the Baptist College awarded its first four-year Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1898, the Board of Trustees renamed it McMinnville College though religious ties remained. In 1921, Frances Eleanor Ross Linfield became McMinnville’s Dean of Women and donated nearly $250,000 of her late husband’s estate. In 1922, the Linfield College name was chosen to honor the Baptist minister. By 1975, Linfield had launched its Division of Continuing Education for adult programs. In 1982, Linfield College partnered with Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital for Portland nursing education. In 2000, Linfield doubled its size by acquiring former Hewlett Packard buildings.

Endowed for $109.1 million, Linfield College now employs 137 full-time faculty teaching 1,989 Wildcats from 24 states and 23 countries online, on its 189-acre McMinnville headquarters, or at the Portland campus with 40+ clubs like the Society of Physics for 82 percent retention. In 2019, Linfield had an Ad Rutschman Small College Female Athlete of the Year Award finalist. In 2018, Linfield College won a CASE District VIII Communications Excellence Award. Linfield accepted a 2017 OASFAA Distinguished Service Award too. The U.S. News & World Report picked Linfield College 117th for liberal arts education and 76th for online bachelor’s degrees. On Niche, Linfield boasts America’s 124th best athletics and 127th top kinesiology program. Forbes named Linfield the 269th top private institution. Times Higher Education positioned Linfield College 176th. Money declared Linfield the 242nd best value.

Linfield College Accreditation Details

On August 28, 2019, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) Board of Commissioners voted to reaffirm the Level II accreditation status at Linfield College through the next Fall 2026 evaluation under President Miles K. Davis, Ph.D., who earned the Healing the Heart of Diversity Award. Located 230 miles up Interstate 5 in Redmond, this superb seven-state Pacific Northwest accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). The Academic Affairs Office also lists the following approvals:

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training

Linfield College Application Requirements

Admission at Linfield College is classified as “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 1,782 of the 2,199 Fall 2018 applicants were triumphant for 81 percent acceptance. First-year Wildcats must finish a high school diploma with four years each of English and mathematics. GED students only qualify with a total score above 680 and minimum 150 subject scores. The Pre-College Program admits high school juniors and seniors with cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or better. Standardized tests are wholly optional for GPAs higher than 3.0. Otherwise, freshmen present an average 1110 SAT and 23 ACT composite score. International students prove language skills with at least 80 TOEFL iBT, 6.5 IELTS, 77 MELAB, and 1250 GTEC marks. Undergrads can transfer up to 72 semester or 108 quarter credits from accredited two-year institutions. The Nursing Major (B.S.) mandates 62 credits of prerequisite courses graded C+.

Linfield College established an Early Action deadline of November 1st. Freshmen applying for Regular Decision must file by February 1st. Transfers are welcome until April 15th for Fall or December 1st for Spring enrollment. The Good Samaritan School of Nursing has unique deadlines of January 2nd and August 1st. Note $400 matriculation fees are non-refundable after May 1st and January 15th. Accordingly, complete the Linfield or Common Application online for free ($40 if Pre-College Program). Submit official transcripts to 900 SE Baker Street in McMinnville, OR 97128. Send test reports using SAT/TOEFL code 4387 or ACT code 3466. Attach supplemental items, such as the teacher recommendation, school report, essay, 200-word short answer responses, and GED certificate. Contact (503) 883-2200 or admission@linfield.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Linfield College is charging traditional McMinnville undergrads $21,780 each semester or $43,560 annually. Bachelor’s majors cover the $288 student body fee and $214 technology fee each year. Health insurance premiums are $1,437 by term. Living at on-campus housing like Elkinton Hall adds $6,970 for yearly rent. Unlimited Meal Plan A for Dillin Hall is $5,700 extra. Linfield budgets $1,000 for personal expenses and $750 for textbooks. Annual undergrad attendance equals $61,357 on-site or $48,687 at home. Part-time study in Oregon costs $1,335 per credit. January Term is discounted to $260 per credit. Online students pay $495 per credit plus a $215 semester fee. The RN to BSN Program is priced at $525 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Melrose Hall Suite 030 connects 100 percent of new full-time Linfield Wildcats to tuition assistance averaging $26,424 each for $10.54 million combined. Institutional funds include the Ballenger Scholarship, Roy Mahaffey Memorial Scholarship, Dave Hansen Service Award, Gormley Scholarship, Arthur Lind Memorial Scholarship, Robert & Vivian Bull Scholarship, Joseph Paquet Nursing Scholarship, John Boling Memorial Scholarship, Jane Claire Dirks-Edmunds Scholarship, and Debbie Olsen Public Service Scholarship. The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship gifts $2,000 per year to 10 transfer members exceeding the 3.25 GPA minimum. The Chemeketa Scholars Program provides $18,000 to Chemeketa Community College grads with GPAs above 3.0. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and Direct Subsidized Loan, become available with FAFSA forms coded 003198. Oregonians could also claim the OSAC Scholarship, Horatio Alger Scholarship, UNCF Pacific Northwest Scholarship, ONF-Smith Education Scholarship, and more.

Scroll through 26 accredited departments for 105+ value-added programs of study placed 98th overall by The Economist at the Linfield College website.