Portland Community College
#7 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon- Graduation Rate
- 18% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,592 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,405 B
- 39% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 19,531
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 26.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.8 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon.
Every $1 spent returns $26.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,074,966.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 18% — 68% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $26.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 93%
- Patents
- 37
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 549
- Downstream influence
Why Portland Community College Matters
Portland Community College is a public community college in Portland, OR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 19,531
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Portland Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,405 a year after grants and scholarships — 39% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,592 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $12,999 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 63% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.01 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 19,500 students, Portland Community College is a solid choice for those looking to start their academic journey or gain practical skills for immediate employment. It's particularly well-suited for individuals interested in areas like Computer Science, Health Professions, and Business. The diverse programs allow students to explore various fields while preparing for the workforce.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $44,592 within ten years, which speaks to the value of the education they receive here. While the graduation rate stands at 18%, many students find their footing in the job market shortly after leaving. Affordability is a key factor for many; the net price after aid is relatively low at $10,405, making it accessible for those seeking a solid return on their investment.
Looking at finances, the median debt is $12,999, which is manageable for many graduates. The 32% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates that the school serves a significant number of low-income individuals. Those who thrive here often appreciate a hands-on approach to learning and are motivated to gain practical skills that lead directly to employment.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Portland Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Portland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Portland, Oregon, Portland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 18%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 32%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,073
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Portland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Portland Community College is $10,440, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,405. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,937 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,999 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,220
- Out-of-State
- $10,440
- Avg Net Price
- $10,405
- Median Debt
- $12,999
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 21%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,937
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,229
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,327
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,868
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Portland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Portland Community College report median earnings of $44,592, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,160
- 8 Years
- $40,198
- 10 Years
- $44,592
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.29x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (187)
- 7%
- 100% (187)
- 7%
- 100% (187)
- 7%
- 100% (187)
- 7%
How Portland Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Portland Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Portland Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,405/year ($41,620 total). Graduates earn $44,592 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,116,586 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,074,966 (26.8× your investment). The median debt is $12,999, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 18% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $41,620
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,116,586
- Net Return
- $1,074,966
- ROI Multiple
- 26.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,405
- Median Debt
- $12,999
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 18%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Portland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Portland Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.24%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.24%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $72,400
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Portland Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 37 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.12%
- Top 93% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 37
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 549
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.05%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-142,875
Top Programs
The fields Portland Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 41%
- Health Professions 10%
- Computer Science & IT 9%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Precision Production 6%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Construction Trades 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Portland Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Portland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Portland, Oregon, Portland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 18%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Portland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Portland Community College is $10,440, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,405. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,937 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,999 in federal student loans.
Is Portland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Portland Community College report median earnings of $44,592, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Portland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Portland Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.24%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Portland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Portland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.10). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Portland Community College.
- Blinn College DistrictBrenham, TX · Close peer11% grad $46,318 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Community College of Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD · Close peer17% grad $43,729 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Salt Lake Community CollegeSalt Lake City, UT · Close peer29% grad $47,867 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA · Close peer34% grad $41,091 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CA · Close peer34% grad $40,060 earnWhy: similar size
- Sacramento City CollegeSacramento, CA · Close peer32% grad $42,214 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Portland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Portland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.10). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note