Application Information

Frequently Asked Questions

You have many questions about Linfield College and we have the answers! Don’t see the information you seek? Send an email to admission@linfield.edu or give us a call at 800.640.2287.

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Academics

Admission Process

Athletics

Financial Aid

General Information

Location

Residence Life

Student Life

Academics

What majors and minors are available?
Linfield is solely undergraduate and offers a curriculum based in the liberal arts and sciences. Forty-seven academic majors and 36 academic programs are available. In addition, pre-professional programs are offered.
Full listing of academic programs

What does "liberal arts" mean?
All Linfield students will take classes outside of their selected major and/or minor. The goal is to expand each student’s horizons and broaden their scope of learning. Students are also encouraged to engage in experiential (hands-on) learning such as collaborative research or internships.
Linfield’s liberal arts curriculum
Student collaborative research projects

Who can I talk with about my major?
All students are assigned a faculty and peer advisor. During the fall semester of freshman year, new students will be involved in an advising class called “Colloquium”. This one credit course serves as an introduction to college life, organized in a seminar and discussion format led by faculty and peer advisors. Advisors discuss matters related to academic goals, academic planning, time management and career preparation.  All freshman students also enroll in an inquiry seminar, which provides an introduction to college writing and presentation skills, in the context of a compelling subject (think of it as an interesting version of Introduction to Writing or Writing 121).
Learn more about Colloquim

What is the average class size?
Our average class size is 18 students. Seventy percent of all classes have 21 or fewer students.  Ninety-one percent of classes have fewer than 31 students.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio?
12:1

What percent of the faculty hold the terminal degree in their field?
Ninety-four percent have attained the highest degree in their field.

Is tutoring available? Are there other study resources?
Yes, peer tutors are available for all students. In addition to the tutoring program, students may also use the Writing Center and the Speaking Center.
Learn more about tutors
Read about the Writing Center
More about the Speaking Center

What services are available for students with learning differences?
The Office of Learning Support Services provides accommodations for students with documented learning differences. Students will work the Learning Support Services on an individual basis.
Office of Learning Support Services

Are there study abroad opportunities at Linfield?
Yes! Linfield has a strong tradition in study abroad and over 50 percent of our students study abroad before graduating. In fact, the Chronicle of Higher Education recognizes Linfield as being one of the top 20 schools of our kind in the number of students we send abroad. With our year, semester and optional January Term programs, Linfield students have numerous opportunities to explore the globe. Linfield even pays for your first round trip airfare!
Year long study abroad programs
Semester study abroad programs
January Term program

What do graduates do after Linfield?
Linfield grads are ready to take on the world-literally! While some decide to stay closer to home and pursue graduate degrees at universities like Harvard Law, Yale, Princeton and Oregon Health Sciences University, others venture around the world to countries like France, Japan and everywhere in between. Ninety-two percent of Linfield graduates are employed or enrolled in a graduate program within one year of graduation.

Linfield graduates are also successful in gaining nationally competitive scholarships and grants, providing them with opportunities to continue their academic interests (often internationally) upon graduation.  In fact, since 1999, 16 Linfield students have been awarded Fulbright grants, making us a top Fulbright producer for Bachelor’s colleges.  Other top Fulbright producing colleges include: Smith College, Bowdoin College, and St. Olaf College.

http://www.linfield.edu/scholarships/recent_winners.php

http://www.iienetwork.org/?p=FulbrightRankings

Admission Process

How do I apply to Linfield?
Linfield accepts the Common Application along with the one-page Linfield supplement form. Both are available online at: www.commonapp.org.
Apply Now!

How hard is it to get accepted to Linfield?
Linfield grants admission to students who are likely to grow and succeed in a personal and challenging liberal arts environment. Each application is reviewed individually in a number of areas including a high school transcript, college test results (SAT or ACT), personal writing sample and academic letters of recommendation. The depth and quality of an applicant’s involvement in community and school activities is also evaluated.
Learn more about the admission process

What is the minimum GPA, SAT and ACT scores to be admitted to Linfield?
We do not currently have a minimum requirement for GPA or test scores. However, the incoming class in 2009 had a mid-range GPA of 3.36-3.85, a mid-range composite SAT score of 990-1200 (critical reading and math), and a mid-range composite ACT score of 21-27.

What are the minimum requirements for high school coursework?
We strongly recommend that applicants have 4 years of English, 4 years of math, 2-4 years of foreign language, 3-4 years of social science and 3-4 of natural science.
More college planning advice

Is an interview required?
Although an interview is not required, we do encourage you to visit campus and see for yourself what makes Linfield a unique learning community.  During your campus visit, you are welcome to take a campus tour of our beautiful 193 acre campus, meet with an admission counselor, attend a Linfield class, visit with a professor or coach and even have lunch in our dining hall.  If there are specific things that you hope to accomplish during a campus visit – just let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
Visit Linfield!

What is Early Action? When is the Early Action deadline?
Students who have identified Linfield as a top choice institution may take advantage of our Early Action option. Early Action provides the opportunity to resolve your college choice early in your senior year. You may still apply to other colleges and are not committed to enrolling at Linfield under the Early Action policy guidelines. Early Action applications must be postmarked by November 15.
Apply online

When is the Regular Decision deadline?
Regular Decision applications must be postmarked by February 15 for freshman students and April 15 for transfer students.
Apply online

Am I a transfer student?
Transfer students are former or current college students with at least 12 transferable semester credits from another accredited college or university. High school students who are enrolled in Running Start or another dual-enrollment program will be considered freshman applicants and their college credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis upon enrollment. Transfer students may request a transfer credit evaluation prior to applying for admission or enrolling.
Transfer to Linfield

Does Linfield award credit for AP exams and IB classes?
Yes, students will be awarded up to five elective credits for AP scores of 4 or higher. Elective credits will also be awarded for upper level IB classes passed with a 5 or higher.

Will community college credits transfer to Linfield?
Classes taken at a community college will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Generally, courses that are academic in nature, over the 100-level (Math 095 accepted) and a “C” grade or higher, will transfer for some type of credit.

How do I apply for financial aid?
In order to qualify for financial aid, students must first be admitted to Linfield College. Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic information included in the application for admission. Eligibility of need-based aid will be based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
FAFSA website

Are there deadlines for financial aid?
Students who meet the preferred application deadline will be considered for academic scholarship. A student who is interested in participating in the Competitive Scholarship Day (our on campus, exam-based scholarship program) must submit his or her application for admission by December 1 and mark the exams they are interested in sitting for on the Linfield supplement form. Also, in order to be considered for need-based aid, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1.
FAFSA Website
Learn more about financial aid

What is the FAFSA4caster and is it required?

If you apply under the Early Action deadline (November 15), you may choose to submit the FAFSA4caster, to determine an early estimate of need based financial aid.  The online form is not required; however, if you do complete it, your information will automatically transfer to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which should be submitted by February 1.
FAFSA4caster

Athletics

What is your athletic affiliation?
Linfield is part of the NCAA Division III. We participate in the Northwest Conference, which is comprised of other small private schools in Oregon and Washington, including: George Fox University, Lewis & Clark College, Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Whitman College, Whitworth University and Willamette University.
NCAA III Northwest Conference

Which varsity sports do you offer?

Men’s intercollegiate teams include: baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis and track.

Women intercollegiate teams include: basketball, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and volleyball.

If you are interested in learning more about Linfield athletics, please submit an athletic inquiry form online at http://www.linfield.edu/sportsinfo.
Linfield Athletics

Can I participate on the team as a walk-on?
Yes, but it depends on the team. Most of our teams are competitive in selecting members, but some have JV teams.

What intramural and club sports are available?

A variety of intramural teams are offered including: basketball, bowling, football, racquetball, soccer, softball, Ultimate Frisbee® and volleyball.

Club sports include bowling, men’s lacrosse, tennis, Ultimate Frisbee® and water polo.
Linfield’s Intramural Sports Program
Linfield’s Clubs

How many students participate in athletics?
About 25-30 percent of Linfield students participate in a team sport either at the intercollegiate level.

Financial Aid

What percent of students receive financial aid?
Ninety-eight percent of Linfield students are receiving some type of financial aid.
Learn more about financial aid
College Costs

General Information

How many students attend Linfield?
Approximately 1,700 students are enrolled at the McMinnville campus and 350 students comprise Linfield’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences located in Portland, Oregon.

From where are most of the students?
Linfield students represent 27 states and 24 countries. Currently, the majority of students come from the western U.S. including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Each year we welcome more students from the Southwest, Midwest, Rocky Mountain states and even a few from back east. International students comprise 5 percent of our student body.
Meet This Year’s Class

How ethnically diverse is the student body?
Eleven percent of our American students have indicated ethnic diversity, with 6 percent Asian American, 1.35 percent African American, 3.7 percent Hispanic and 1 percent Native American. Additionally, 5 percent of the Linfield student population is international students from 24 countries, including China, India, Israel, Japan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

What is the male to female ratio?
Approximately 44 percent of the students are male, 56 percent are female.

What is Linfield's retention rate?

Our freshman to sophomore retention rate is 81 percent. We have a 68.5 percent graduation rate.

How do I schedule a campus visit?
One of the most important aspects of the college search is to find a campus that fits. Sometimes the only way to find out is to visit. The Office of Admission is open Monday-Saturday during the academic year and offer two student-led campus tours daily. Complete the online form or give us a call at 1.800.640.2287 to schedule a visit.
Schedule a campus visit

Location

Where is McMinnville?
"Mac," as it is affectionately known, is centrally located between the state's capital (Salem), Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast, and Portland (Oregon's largest city). By car, it takes an hour or less to reach each of these destinations.

How Large is McMinnville?
Approximately 32,000 residents call McMinnville home.

What do students do for fun in Mac?
Aside from the active social life on campus, downtown McMinnville is home to several coffee shops, bookstores and art galleries, and is within walking distance to campus.
What’s happening on campus?
Read more about student clubs on campus
Learn more about the McMinnville community
What’s going on in downtown McMinnville?

Is there an airport?
Yes, but the closest international airport is in Portland. The Portland International Airport (PDX) is one-and-a-half hours from McMinnville. There is a Linfield-run shuttle service to and from the airport during fall orientation, major holidays, breaks and the end of school.
Portland International Airport

What is the weather like?
The temperature in McMinnville is fairly moderate. Winter temperatures are likely to be in the forties, but may occasionally dip below freezing. During fall and spring, the temperature ranges from mid-fifties to the eighties.
What is today’s weather?

Residence Life

How many years do students live on campus?
Linfield is a very residential college, and our students live on campus for at least their first three years (but most seniors still choose to live on campus). Our 17 residence halls generally house freshman and sophomores. On campus apartments are available for juniors and seniors. Approximately 80% of Linfield students reside on campus.
Office of Residence Life

Are there freshman-only or 'themed' residence halls?
Although freshman will typically be roomed together, they will share the residence halls with upper classmen. There are two substance-free halls available for students who are interested in committing to living healthy lifestyles.
www.linfield.edu/reslife

What is included in a residence hall room?
Each residence hall has card swipe access for outside doors, laundry facilities, public call boxes, a lounge with television, expanded basic cable, kitchen, recycling and a variety of other community facilities.

Each room is furnished with a standard size twin bed, closet space, dresser, desk and desk chair for each student. All rooms are connected to cable TV, internet (T-1 connection) and telephone service.

Can freshman bring cars to campus?
Yes, however, it is probably not necessary. Students are asked to register their vehicles with the Linfield College Community Public Safety & Security Department and obtain a parking permit, which is $85.00 for the school year.  Linfield is also a U-Car Share member, which is a program allowing students to “rent” vehicles on-campus for an hour or a full day.  More details regarding U-Car can be found online at www.ucarshare.com.

How does the meal plan work?
Each meal plan includes seven all-you-care-to-eat meals a week and a range of declining balance dollar amount. New students will automatically be assigned the standard meal plan for the first semester. Sodexo is the food service provider and students may use their meal cards in Dillin Hall (the main dining hall), O’Riley’s (a coffee shop on campus), and The Observatory Store (an on-campus convenience store).
Learn more about Linfield’s meal plans

Student Life

What is Linfield's religious affiliation?
Linfield is historically and currently affiliated with the American Baptist Church. While we do offer faith-based student groups and a Religious Studies department, religious commitment is not required, and our curriculum is not faith-based.
Learn more about spiritual life on Linfield’s campus

What types of clubs or other activities do students participate in?
With over 80 clubs and other organizations to choose from, Linfield students find it hard to pick just one.
Read more about student clubs on campus

What happens at Linfield during the weekends?
Linfield strives to offer a variety of activities everyday. Many events, such as lectures, are academic (we are one of only five schools in the world that participate in the Nobel Laureate Symposium, which brings Nobel Prize winners to campus). Other activities are more relaxed (we’ve hosted two MTV Real World cast members in recent years and countless comedians and music groups). Regardless of the day, there’s always something going happening.
Activities Calendar

Is there a Greek system?
Yes, there are four fraternities and four sororities on campus. Approximately 30 percent of Linfield students participate in Greek life.
Learn more about Linfield’s Greek system

Didn’t see your question? Call the Office of Admission at 800.640.2287 or send an email to admission@linfield.edu.