Rankings / By State
Best Biology Colleges in Oregon
- 14
- Schools
- $61,499
- Avg. Earnings
- 64%
- Avg. Graduation
- $24,803
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,642
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $48,917 at the low end to $82,804 at the top. That 1.7× 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 64% 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 Reed College ($62,927 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
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Portland State University and University of Portland. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
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 $61K 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 Reed College #1 overall | $62,927 ▲ +2% vs avg | $33,013 | 74% | 77 |
| 2 University of Portland #2 overall | $82,804 ▲ +35% vs avg | $28,210 | 80% | 76 |
| 3 Lewis & Clark College #3 overall | $62,205 ▲ +1% vs avg | $36,013 | 73% | 76 |
| $61,324 ▲ +0% vs avg | $22,182 | 72% | 74 | |
| $64,010 ▲ +4% vs avg | $19,604 | 70% | 73 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Biology Colleges in Oregon
This analysis ranks 14 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $61,499 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 64% and an average net price of $24,803.
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
Our Analysis Found
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?
$60,954
Median earnings (10yr)
69%
Median graduation rate
$25,829
Median net price
1.3%
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.
Across the 14 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $60,954 ten years after they first enrolled, about $12,954 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 69%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $25,829 a year, with about $21,296 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 26% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.3%.
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 $25,829 and graduates earning a median of $60,954, 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
Reed College lands at #1 with a 77/100 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, 2% 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 #2
University of Portland lands at #2 with a 76/100 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, 35% 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
Lewis & Clark College lands at #3 with a 76/100 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, 1% 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 #4
University of Oregon lands at #4 with a 74/100 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, 0% 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 #5
Oregon State University lands at #5 with a 73/100 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, 4% 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 #6
Portland State University lands at #6 with a 72/100 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, 6% 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 #7
Willamette University lands at #7 with a 71/100 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, 7% 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
Linfield University lands at #8 with a 70/100 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, 28% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,536 a year. 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
Southern Oregon University lands at #9 with a 69/100 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, 20% 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 #10
Corban University lands at #10 with a 68/100 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, 20% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Pacific University lands at #11 with a 68/100 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, 1% below 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
George Fox University lands at #12 with a 67/100 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, 3% below 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus lands at #13 with a 66/100 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, 4% 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 #14
Western Oregon University lands at #14 with a 66/100 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, 16% 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
Cut it by what you care about
The same 14 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Choosing a biology program in Oregon means weighing various factors, from job prospects to graduation rates. Across the state, these colleges are recognized for their strong biology offerings and outcomes that support students' futures.
What sets apart the leading schools here are the solid earnings graduates can expect, along with completion rates and manageable debt levels. The schools on this list are ranked by how well they prepare students for real-world success, blending both educational quality and financial outcomes. This means understanding what you can earn after graduation and the likelihood of finishing your degree.
For instance, the University of Portland stands out with average earnings of $82,804 and a graduation rate of 80%. In contrast, Oregon Institute of Technology, while offering a lower net price of $15,706, has a graduation rate of only 56% and average earnings of $72,273. Weighing these factors can help you make an informed decision as you explore your options.
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 13 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.3%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Portland State University leads the group at 2%, with Willamette University (1.8%) and Oregon State University (1.6%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 5% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Portland State University enrolls the most, at 8.3%, 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 27.6% 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 1.65, 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
When we look closely at the data, a notable trend emerges. The University of Portland, with its high graduation rate of 80%, clearly supports its students better than Oregon Institute of Technology, which has a significantly lower completion rate of 56%. This difference can impact not only the immediate educational experience but also long-term career earnings, as those who graduate tend to earn more.
Now that you have the rankings, consider what matters most to you. Are you prioritizing earning potential, or is a lower net price more appealing? Think about campus culture and location as well. If you value a higher graduation rate for better job prospects, the University of Portland may be your best bet. However, if you’re looking for affordability, Oregon Institute of Technology could be worth the tradeoff.
Ultimately, this data reflects a larger reality: the right college choice can significantly influence your future stability and career success. Every family faces these choices, and understanding what each school offers can help make a more informed decision. Whether you aim for higher earnings or a more affordable education, consider how each option aligns with your long-term goals.
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 Biology Colleges in Oregon: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Biology Colleges in Oregon ranking? +
Reed College in Portland, OR ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Biology Colleges in Oregon ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $62,927 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 74% 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 $61,499 average across the 14 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 64% 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 $24,803 a year across the 14 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 Biology Colleges 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 14 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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