Rankings / By State
Best Bachelor's Programs in Oregon
- 19
- Schools
- $59,320
- Avg. Earnings
- 61%
- Avg. Graduation
- $24,331
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,078
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $34,883 at the low end to $82,804 at the top. That 2.4× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Portland State University offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $57,906 against $9,552 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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Cost and quality are not at odds here. The most affordable school, Portland State University at $9,552 a year in net price, delivers earnings of $57,906, matching or exceeding the list average.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Portland graduates 80% of its students, well above the 61% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor University of Portland: graduates owe only 0.26× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Oregon Institute of Technology ($72,273 earnings), not the highest earner, University of Portland ($82,804). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Portland State University ($9,552/yr) and Lewis & Clark College ($36,013/yr) produce graduates earning $57,906 and $62,205 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $26,461 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Portland State University outperforms University of Portland: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Portland State University and University of Portland. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $60K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oregon Institute of Technology #1 overall | $72,273 ▲ +22% vs avg | $15,706 | 56% | 71 |
| 2 University of Portland #2 overall | $82,804 ▲ +40% vs avg | $28,210 | 80% | 70 |
| 3 Oregon State University #3 overall | $64,010 ▲ +8% vs avg | $19,604 | 70% | 68 |
| $57,906 ▼ -2% vs avg | $9,552 | 53% | 68 | |
| $62,927 ▲ +6% vs avg | $33,013 | 74% | 68 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Bachelor's Programs in Oregon
This analysis ranks 19 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $59,320 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 61% and an average net price of $24,331.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Portland State University — Net Price: $9,552 | Graduation Rate: 53%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Portland — 80% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: University of Portland — Median alumni earnings: $82,804
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Oregon Opportunity Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about higher education and opportunity in Oregon?
$59,761
Median earnings (10yr)
66%
Median graduation rate
$25,121
Median net price
1.5%
Avg. mobility rate
Students tend to study where they live and work where they study, which makes a state's colleges its most important economic development asset. This ranking evaluates how well institutions across Oregon serve that role: producing graduates with strong earnings, keeping talent in the regional economy, and offering affordable paths for local students.
Start with the medians across these 19 schools. Graduates earn a median of $59,761 ten years after enrollment, or about $11,761 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 66%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $25,121 a year with about $21,500 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 28% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.5%.
For Oregon, the institutions that combine manageable costs with strong graduate outcomes are the ones building the local workforce. With a median net price of $25,121 and graduates earning a median of $59,761, these schools sit where the talent pipeline and economic development meet.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Oregon Institute of Technology lands at #1 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (69/100). Graduates earn a median $72,273 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,706 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
University of Portland lands at #2 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $82,804 a decade after enrolling, 40% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,210 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Oregon State University lands at #3 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $64,010 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,604 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Portland State University lands at #4 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $57,906 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,552 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Reed College lands at #5 with a 68/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $62,927 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $33,013 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of Oregon lands at #6 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $61,324 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,182 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Willamette University lands at #7 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $56,911 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,121 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Lewis & Clark College lands at #8 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $62,205 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,013 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Linfield University lands at #9 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $78,638 a decade after enrolling, 33% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,536 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Southern Oregon University lands at #10 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $49,175 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,732 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus lands at #11 with a 62/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (70/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $64,010 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,048 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Eastern Oregon University lands at #12 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $50,112 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,148 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Western Oregon University lands at #13 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $51,815 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,237 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Corban University lands at #14 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $48,917 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,035 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Pacific University lands at #15 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (33/100). Graduates earn a median $60,583 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,273 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
George Fox University lands at #16 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $59,761 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $31,679 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Warner Pacific University lands at #17 with a 59/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $55,204 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,629 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Bushnell University lands at #18 with a 51/100 composite, led by academic quality (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (34/100). Graduates earn a median $53,623 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,789 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Pacific Northwest College of Art lands at #19 with a 40/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (50/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $34,883 a decade after enrolling, 41% below this list's average, and net price runs $35,785 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 19 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Oregon boasts a variety of bachelor's programs, each with unique strengths and challenges. As students and families weigh their options, understanding outcomes like earnings and graduation rates can help clarify the best paths forward.
What sets the top programs apart is not just prestige but measurable success in key areas. The schools on this list show significant differences in earnings potential, graduation rates, and average student debt, reflecting their ability to prepare graduates for the workforce. By examining these factors, we can see not just where students earn degrees, but how those degrees translate into financial stability.
Take the University of Portland and Portland State University, for example. The University of Portland has a graduation rate of 80% and an average earning of $82,804, while Portland State University has a much lower graduation rate of 53% and earns an average of $57,906. These differences highlight the trade-offs students might face when choosing a program.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 15 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.5%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Oregon Institute of Technology leads the group at 3.5%, with Portland State University (2%) and Eastern Oregon University (2%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 5.7% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Eastern Oregon University enrolls the most, at 10.6%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 27.5% across the list, peaking at 52.4% at Willamette University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.60, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Lewis & Clark College is highest at 1.78.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Many prospective students may not realize that small differences in graduation rates can lead to significant disparities in earnings. For instance, the University of Portland's graduation rate of 80% correlates with an average earning of $82,804, while Portland State University's 53% rate results in an average earning of just $57,906. This suggests that completing a degree significantly affects financial outcomes.
As you explore these programs, consider how factors like location, specific major offerings, and campus culture align with your priorities. Each school has its unique vibe, and it’s essential to think about where you’ll thrive both academically and personally. Look beyond the numbers at what kind of environment you want to be in while you learn.
This data highlights the importance of choosing a program that not only meets academic needs but also supports a stable future. Graduating with less debt and higher earnings can set the foundation for a solid financial life. Each choice impacts one family, one decision, and can shape the future in significant ways.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Bachelor's Programs in Oregon: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Bachelor's Programs in Oregon ranking? +
Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Bachelor's Programs in Oregon ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $72,273 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 56% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
University of Portland posts the highest median earnings on this list: $82,804 ten years after enrollment, well above the $59,320 average across the 19 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Portland State University leads: graduates earn a median $57,906 against net price of about $9,552 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Portland has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 80%, compared with a 61% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $24,331 a year across the 19 ranked schools with cost data. Portland State University is among the most affordable at roughly $9,552. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Bachelor's Programs in Oregon ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 19 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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