by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Oregon, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **29** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 29 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is Oregon Health And Science University, our #1 college in Oregon. Set in Portland, OR, Oregon Health And Science University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $24,306, with out-of-state students paying around $37,338. Early-career graduates earn a median of $126,454. Students borrow a median of $32,059 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Portland, which ranked #2 this year. University Of Portland is a private not-for-profit school based in Portland, OR. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,739 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,169.
The strong outcomes at University Of Oregon earned it the #3 place in Oregon. University Of Oregon is a public school based in Eugene, OR. University Of Oregon graduates 72% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Median early-career earnings reach $44,628. The median student debt is $22,034.
You'll be in good company at Oregon State University, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Median early-career earnings reach $51,000. Typical student debt is $24,043.
The strong outcomes at George Fox University earned it the #5 place in Oregon. George Fox University is a private not-for-profit school based in Newberg, OR. George Fox University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,320. Median early-career earnings reach $52,898. Graduates carry a median of $25,324 in student loans.
Linfield College landed the #6 spot in Oregon this year. Based in McMinnville, OR, Linfield College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,736. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,559 early in their careers. Linfield College students take on a median of $27,455 in debt.
Pacific University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Forest Grove, OR. Pacific University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,374. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,850. Graduates carry a median of $26,170 in student loans.
Lewis And Clark College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Portland, OR, Lewis And Clark College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,828. Lewis And Clark College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,381. Lewis And Clark College students take on a median of $23,301 in debt.
Willamette University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Willamette University is a private not-for-profit school based in Salem, OR. Willamette University graduates 71% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,156. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,892 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,537.
Oregon Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Klamath Falls, OR, Oregon Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Oregon Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $13,260 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,196 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,715. Students borrow a median of $27,551 to complete a degree here.
Reed College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Portland, OR, Reed College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,350. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $30,588. Graduates carry a median of $21,137 in student loans.
Portland State University landed the #12 spot in Oregon this year. Located in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,717. Graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans.
Western Oregon University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Western Oregon University is a public school based in Monmouth, OR. About 47% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,514, compared with $32,169 for out-of-state students. Western Oregon University graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,436. Graduates carry a median of $24,166 in student loans.
Southern Oregon University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Ashland, OR. Southern Oregon University graduates 42% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,762, compared with $31,887 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $41,038. Students borrow a median of $24,951 to complete a degree here.
Western Seminary came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Portland, OR, Western Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $50,466.
University Of Western States did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Portland, OR, University Of Western States is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,904.
Northwest Christian University placed #17 among the best colleges in Oregon. Located in Eugene, OR, Northwest Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwest Christian University graduates 56% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,800. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,860. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete a degree here.
Eastern Oregon University did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in La Grande, OR. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,184, while out-of-state students pay about $24,729. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,041 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,765 to complete a degree here.
Corban University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Salem, OR, Corban University is a private not-for-profit institution. Corban University graduates 61% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $37,963 in tuition and fees. Corban University graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,194. Graduates carry a median of $24,318 in student loans.
Carrington College Portland did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private for-profit school is set in Portland, OR. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $34,432. Students borrow a median of $14,363 to complete a degree here.
Portland Community College did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in Portland, OR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Median early-career earnings reach $49,580. Typical student debt is $20,648.
Warner Pacific College placed #22 among the best colleges in Oregon. Located in Portland, OR, Warner Pacific College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,220. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,176. Students borrow a median of $41,254 to complete a degree here.
Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program landed the #23 spot in Oregon this year. Located in Portland, OR, Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,640. Median early-career earnings reach $54,388. Students borrow a median of $41,254 to complete a degree here.
Columbia Gorge Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in The Dalles, OR, Columbia Gorge Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940, compared with $10,260 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,167 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,416 to complete a degree here.
Chemeketa Community College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in Salem, OR, Chemeketa Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,345, compared with $14,040 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $15,755.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.