Willamette University and Pacific University signed a letter of intent to merge and create a combined institution—provisionally branded the University of the Northwest—that would be Oregon’s largest private university if approved. The proposal calls for a shared administrative structure while preserving campus identities, admissions pathways and most academic programs, and anticipates regulatory review by accrediting bodies and state officials. Presidents said the merger would expand curricular offerings and workforce-aligned programs amid enrollment pressure and fiscal strain at small private colleges. The proposal will test regional regulatory timelines and offers a model for consolidation as institutions seek scale, curricular breadth and financial sustainability.