2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Oregon
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong chemistry education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for chemistry students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chemistry Schools
For return on investment in chemistry, no school beat Portland State University this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Students borrow a median of $24,773 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $35,395 early in their careers. Set against $24,773 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oregon State University earned it the #2 place for chemistry. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $41,779 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Oregon came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $19,834 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $70,315 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,834 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Willamette University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Set in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,156. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Willamette University generally make around $41,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Portland came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $22,900. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Portland generally make around $54,739. That is a strong return on a $22,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
