With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Oregon ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
After analyzing 17 schools in Oregon, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. A associate degree holder from a school in Oregon makes an average starting salary of $42,451, but the students who attended schools in the top 16 of our list make an average of $43,268.
Starting Salary ( 31878 to 56651 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in Oregon have accumulated an average of $21,646 in student debt.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Portland Community College tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Oregon for overall quality. Located in Portland, Oregon, the fairly large public school awarded 3,703 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Portland Community College go into careers with an average salary of $45,761 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $23,802.
The excellent associate degree programs at Oregon Institute of Technology helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Oregon. Located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the small public school handed out 31 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from OIT make an average of $54,923 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 17 associate degree schools in Oregon that were part of this year’s ranking, Mt. Hood Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Mt. Hood Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Gresham, Oregon that handed out 1,331 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from MHCC go into careers with an average salary of $46,287 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,103 in student loans.
Out of the 17 associate degree schools in Oregon that were part of this year’s ranking, Chemeketa Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Salem, Oregon, and it awarded 1,440 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Chemeketa Community College make an average of $37,860 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,694.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern Oregon Community College. The school came in at #5 in Oregon on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Located in Coos Bay, Oregon, the small public school awarded 342 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from SWOCC is $39,283 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $15,262 in student loans.
Lane Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Eugene, Oregon, and it awarded 1,635 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Lane Community College make an average of $46,649 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $19,587.
Clackamas Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. Clackamas Community College is a public institution located in Oregon City, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 648 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Umpqua Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking, coming in at #8. Umpqua Community College is a small public school situated in Roseburg, Oregon. It awarded 288 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Umpqua Community College is $49,693 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,000 after getting their degree.
Columbia Gorge Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. Columbia Gorge Community College is a public institution located in The Dalles, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 141 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $77,917 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $21,053.
Oregon Coast Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. Located in Newport, Oregon, the small public school handed out 41 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Oregon Coast Community College go into careers with an average salary of $43,215 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $25,507.
Linn-Benton Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon list. Albany, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 724 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from LBCC make an average of $46,308 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $21,045.
Central Oregon Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. Central Oregon Community College is a small public school located in Bend, Oregon that handed out 671 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from COCC is $35,334 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,595 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #13, Blue Mountain Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon list. Located in Pendleton, Oregon, the small public school awarded 293 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from BMCC make an average of $45,315 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $22,975 in student loans.
Rogue Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon list. Located in Grants Pass, Oregon, the small public school awarded 469 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Rogue Community College make an average of $40,994 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,649 in student loans.
Clatsop Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. Clatsop Community College is a public institution located in Astoria, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 92 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Clatsop Community College go into careers with an average salary of $32,232 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,045.
Treasure Valley Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking, coming in at #16. This small public school is located in Ontario, Oregon, and it awarded 201 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Treasure Valley Community College go into careers with an average salary of $25,065 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $21,407.
With a ranking of #17, Klamath Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Oregon list. Klamath Community College is a small public school located in Klamath Falls, Oregon that handed out 270 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Klamath Community College make an average of $25,459 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,143 after getting their degree.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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