Rankings / By State
Best Colleges in Oregon
- 32
- Schools
- $52,522
- Avg. Earnings
- 47%
- Avg. Graduation
- $18,287
- Avg. Net Price
- $18,823
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 32 schools run from $34,883 to $82,804, a 2.4× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Portland State University delivers the most for the money: roughly $57,906 in median earnings against $9,552 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Tillamook Bay Community College is the lowest-cost school here at $5,405 a year in net price.
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University of Portland graduates 80% of its students, versus a 47% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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University of Portland carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.26× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Oregon Institute of Technology ($72,273 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, University of Portland ($82,804), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- On value, Portland State University beats University of Portland: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
- Graduation rates split the field: University of Portland finishes 80% of students while Portland Community College finishes 18%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with Portland State University and University of Portland. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
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 $52K 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 ▲ +38% vs avg | $15,706 | 56% | 72 |
| 2 University of Portland #2 overall | $82,804 ▲ +58% vs avg | $28,210 | 80% | 72 |
| 3 Portland State University #3 overall | $57,906 ▲ +10% vs avg | $9,552 | 53% | 70 |
| $64,010 ▲ +22% vs avg | $19,604 | 70% | 70 | |
| $61,324 ▲ +17% vs avg | $22,182 | 72% | 70 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Colleges in Oregon
This analysis ranks 32 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $52,522 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 47% and an average net price of $18,287.
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
CollegeRanker Primary Research
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?
$50,964
Median earnings (10yr)
45%
Median graduation rate
$16,940
Median net price
1.4%
Avg. mobility rate
Higher education is intensely local: most students enroll close to home and stay to work nearby, so a state's colleges are also its talent pipeline. This ranking looks at the mix of public and private institutions across Oregon, asking who keeps graduates in-state, who delivers earnings against the local cost of living, and who moves residents up the income ladder.
The median graduation rate across these 32 schools is 45%. Median graduate earnings reach $50,964 ten years after enrollment, roughly $2,964 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $16,940 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $20,500. Some 29% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.4%.
What we’re seeing: the schools that matter most for Oregon pair affordability with outcomes that keep talent local. A median net price of $16,940 and median earnings of $50,964 show which institutions strengthen the regional economy rather than simply enrolling students.
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 72/100 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, 38% 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 72/100 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, 58% 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
Portland State University lands at #3 with a 70/100 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, 10% above 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Oregon State University lands at #4 with a 70/100 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, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,604 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 #5
University of Oregon lands at #5 with a 70/100 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, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,182 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 #6
Reed College lands at #6 with a 69/100 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, 20% 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 #7
Linfield University lands at #7 with a 69/100 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, 50% 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 #8
Lewis & Clark College lands at #8 with a 69/100 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, 18% 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
Willamette University lands at #9 with a 68/100 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, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,121 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 67/100 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, 6% 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
Southwestern Oregon Community College lands at #11 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (80/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (61/100). Graduates earn a median $38,349 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,527 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Corban University lands at #12 with a 64/100 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, 7% 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 #13
Western Oregon University lands at #13 with a 64/100 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, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,237 a year. 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
Pacific University lands at #14 with a 64/100 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, 15% 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 #15
Eastern Oregon University lands at #15 with a 64/100 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, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,148 a year. 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 #16
George Fox University lands at #16 with a 64/100 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, 14% 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
Clackamas Community College lands at #17 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $42,886 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,855 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 #18
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus lands at #18 with a 63/100 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, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,048 a year. 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 #19
Linn-Benton Community College lands at #19 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $41,363 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,553 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 #20
Portland Community College lands at #20 with a 62/100 composite, led by value per dollar (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $44,592 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,405 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Clatsop Community College lands at #21 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (40/100). Graduates earn a median $39,477 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,548 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 #22
Blue Mountain Community College lands at #22 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $38,375 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,095 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 #23
Central Oregon Community College lands at #23 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $38,940 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,266 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 #24
Columbia Gorge Community College lands at #24 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $44,440 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,416 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 #25
Chemeketa Community College lands at #25 with a 60/100 composite, led by value per dollar (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (39/100). Graduates earn a median $40,968 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,200 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Warner Pacific University lands at #26 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, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,629 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 #27
Lane Community College lands at #27 with a 58/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (38/100). Graduates earn a median $38,075 a decade after enrolling, 28% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,123 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Mt Hood Community College lands at #28 with a 49/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $41,125 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,821 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Bushnell University lands at #29 with a 49/100 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, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,789 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 #30
Tillamook Bay Community College lands at #30 with a 48/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (100/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Net price runs $5,405 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 #31
Oregon Coast Community College lands at #31 with a 42/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Net price runs $7,666 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Pacific Northwest College of Art lands at #32 with a 41/100 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, 34% 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 32 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Oregon is home to a diverse range of colleges, each offering unique opportunities for students. As families consider their options for higher education, understanding the key factors that contribute to a school's value is essential.
The schools on this list are ranked based on critical outcomes such as earnings after graduation, graduation rates, debt levels, and overall mobility. These metrics help illuminate which institutions may provide the best return on investment for students.
For instance, the University of Portland stands out with average earnings of $82,804 and an impressive 80% graduation rate. In contrast, Portland State University has lower earnings of $57,906 and a graduation rate of 53%. This comparison illustrates the trade-offs families may face when weighing different 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 25 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.4%. 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 Southwestern Oregon Community College (2%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 8.4% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Southwestern Oregon Community College enrolls the most, at 15.6%, 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 20.7% 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 1.34, 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 looking closely at Oregon's colleges, a notable distinction arises between the University of Portland and Oregon State University. The University of Portland, with its $82,804 average earnings and 80% graduation rate, clearly outpaces Oregon State's $64,010 earnings and 70% graduation rate. This suggests that while both schools offer solid education, the return on investment may be higher at the University of Portland.
As you sift through these options, consider what matters most for your family. Look beyond the numbers to think about location, campus culture, and specific programs that align with your interests. A lower net price like the $9,552 at Portland State could make it an appealing choice for budget-conscious families, while those prioritizing higher earnings might lean toward the University of Portland.
Ultimately, the data reflects the importance of college in shaping life trajectories. A family's decision can lead to different paths—one that may lead to financial stability or one that requires navigating significant debt. Each choice carries weight, and understanding these figures can help ground that decision in reality.
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 Colleges in Oregon: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Colleges in Oregon ranking? +
Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Colleges 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 $52,522 average across the 30 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 47% 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 $18,287 a year across the 32 ranked schools with cost data. Tillamook Bay Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $5,405. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best 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 32 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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