2024 Best Colleges in Oregon
30
Colleges
$48,700
Avg Salary*
45%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Top Oregon Colleges ranking is part of that endeavor.
We analyzed 30 colleges and universities across Oregon to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.
Find out more about our ranking methodology.
Custom Rankings
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Top Colleges in Oregon
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Pacific University the best school in Oregon in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree.Forest Grove, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,283 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Pacific make an average of $54,436 a year.
Full Pacific University Report
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Oregon helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Oregon. Located in Eugene, Oregon, the large public school awarded 6,332 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,472 during the early years of their career..
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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Oregon State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Oregon. Oregon State is a large public school situated in Corvallis, Oregon. It awarded 8,500 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $56,619 during the early years of their career..
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Portland. The school came in at #4 in Oregon on this year’s overall quality ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 1,038 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. During the early years of their career, graduates from University of Portland make an average of $71,543 a year.
Full University of Portland Report
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges in Oregon list means Portland Community College is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Portland Community College is located in Portland, Oregon and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,793 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Portland Community College is $41,311 during the early years of their career.
Full Portland Community College Report
Western Oregon University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Oregon ranking. Located in Monmouth, Oregon, the small public school handed out 1,246 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,041 during the early years of their career..
Full Western Oregon University Report
Portland State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list. Portland State University is a public institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,733 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University is $51,902 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Portland State University
Lewis & Clark College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking. Lewis & Clark College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 885 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lewis and Clark College make an average of $52,016 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Lewis & Clark College
George Fox University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking, coming in at #9. GFU is located in Newberg, Oregon and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,143 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from GFU is $49,472 during the early years of their career.
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Oregon Institute of Technology ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list. Oregon Institute of Technology is a small public school located in Klamath Falls, Oregon that handed out 808 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,184 during the early years of their career..
Full Oregon Institute of Technology Report
Linfield University - McMinnville Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking, coming in at #11. Located in McMinnville, Oregon, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 279 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Linfield make an average of $66,898 a year.
Full Linfield University - McMinnville Campus Report
Mt. Hood Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking, coming in at #12. MHCC is a public institution located in Gresham, Oregon. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,839 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MHCC make an average of $40,199 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Mt. Hood Community College Report
Chemeketa Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking. Chemeketa Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Salem, Oregon that handed out 1,778 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Chemeketa Community College make an average of $35,495 a year.
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Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Portland, Oregon, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 158 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,574 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program
Southwestern Oregon Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list. Located in Coos Bay, Oregon, the small public school handed out 509 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from SWOCC make an average of $35,287 a year.
Full Southwestern Oregon Community College Report
Lane Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Eugene, Oregon, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,010 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lane Community College make an average of $34,306 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Lane Community College Report
With a ranking of #17, Corban University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Salem, Oregon, and it awarded 316 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Corban is $47,947 during the early years of their career.
Full Corban University Report
Southern Oregon University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Oregon ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Ashland, Oregon, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,292 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Oregon University make an average of $43,741 per year during the early years of their career.
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Eastern Oregon University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list. Located in La Grande, Oregon, the small public school awarded 831 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from EOU go into careers with an average salary of $46,331 during the early years of their career.
Full Eastern Oregon University Report
Clackamas Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Oregon ranking.Oregon City, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 888 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Clackamas Community College make an average of $40,423 a year.
Full Clackamas Community College Report
Umpqua Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list.Roseburg, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 651 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Umpqua Community College is $35,537 during the early years of their career.
Full Umpqua Community College Report
Warner Pacific University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list. Warner Pacific is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Portland, Oregon. It awarded 146 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Warner Pacific go into careers with an average salary of $50,574 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Warner Pacific University
Willamette University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list. Willamette is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salem, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 598 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,036 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Willamette University
Bushnell University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges in Oregon list.Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 261 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Bushnell University is $46,847 during the early years of their career.
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Oregon Coast Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Oregon ranking. This small public school is located in Newport, Oregon, and it awarded 64 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Oregon Coast Community College go into careers with an average salary of $41,311 during the early years of their career.
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