Colleges in Oregon
Why go to College in Oregon?
With its lush forests, picturesque mountains, quirky culture, and relatively mild climate, Oregon is an ideal place to attend college. From large research universities like the University of Oregon to private liberal arts schools like Reed College, Oregon offers a broad selection of programs to help you meet your higher education goals. Oregon also has a dynamic economic landscape — including the aptly named Silicon Forest — that offers numerous opportunities for college graduates to find well-paying jobs.
What Options are Available for Colleges in Oregon?
On-Campus
Whether you're looking for a two- or four-year program, there are many institutions in Oregon that offer on-campus learning for students. These programs are perfect if you're seeking a more traditional college experience with plenty of opportunities for peer and instruction interaction. Attending an on-campus program in Oregon will also work well if you prefer the structure of scheduled classes and enjoy the social aspects of student clubs, sports, and other activities.
Online Programs
Enrolling in one of the many reputable online colleges in Oregon offers both convenience and affordability. While some courses require you to take classes at prearranged times, other online formats give you the flexibility to complete coursework on your own schedule. Because online courses lack the structure of more traditional classrooms, students in these programs need to be more self-motivated and independent. If you have commitments outside school that make it more difficult to attend classes on campus, including work or family obligations, you might consider one of the many online schools in Oregon.
Hybrid Programs
Many online colleges in Oregon offer hybrid programs that combine online and on-campus learning. These programs enable you to receive in-person instruction on concepts that are difficult to teach digitally, while still taking a good portion of your courses online. For example, many scientific and practical disciplines make use of labs and practicums that require students to attend on-campus sessions. Hybrid programs are good options for working professionals who require a greater level of flexibility as they pursue their degrees. In some cases, in-person classes can be taken in the evenings or on weekends, making them easier to attend if you work during the week.
Popular Degree Programs in Oregon
Oregon is known for its lush forests, pristine coastlines, and all-around natural beauty. It's also home to a progressive culture that values both people and the environment. Perhaps it is little surprise, then, that the most popular majors at both on-campus and online schools in Oregon are forestry and psychology.
Forestry These programs, available through many online colleges in Oregon, prepare students to manage, sustain, and develop forests for ecological, economic, and recreational purposes. Common topics include mapping, harvesting, natural resource management, and public administration.
Psychology This field of study focuses on both individual and collective behaviors and the treatment of behavioral disorders. Research methods, principles of psychology, and psychological assessment methods are all common components of these programs.
What are the Best Online Colleges in Oregon?
Selecting the right college is one of the most important decisions someone can make on both a personal and professional level. To help make your search easier, we have compiled a list of the best online colleges in Oregon. The list serves as a comprehensive guide to help you find the school that meets your needs when it comes to higher education. Since schools vary in terms of curricula, tuition rates, program requirements, and online delivery platforms, this guide can take some of the stress and uncertainty out of your college search.
Top 10 Online Colleges in Oregon for 2019
Admissions Rate
31%
Graduation Rate
59%
Online Enrollment
12%
Retention Rate
80%
Default Rate
4%
Founded as a Baptist school in Arizona, Corban University is now a small, private university in Salem. Named after the Hebrew expression for "a gift dedicated to God," Corban offers online degree programs in business or psychology. Ranked high among online schools in Oregon, Corban distinguishes itself with small class sizes and Bible study requirements. Online students at Corban can complete elective, general education, and major courses all remotely. Tuition is the same for all online learners regardless of residency status. Applicants should have a high school GPA of 2.7 or a transfer GPA of 2.0. All students must have a professed faith in Jesus Christ. Corban features an archaeology museum with an extensive collection. The school's Salem campus is marked by verdant conifers and more than 100 species of birds.
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What are the Best Online Community Colleges in Oregon?
Both community colleges and universities can offer online programs in Oregon. Community colleges are two-year institutions that award associate degrees and certificates in order to train students for specific careers, or to help them fulfill general education courses that they can later transfer into four-year programs at another school. Universities tend to focus more on research, offer a broader variety of majors, and award bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Below you will find a list of the best online community colleges in Oregon to help you find the right fit for your your needs.
Top 5 Online Community Colleges in Oregon for 2019
Graduation Rate
15%
Online Enrollment
17%
Retention Rate
59%
Default Rate
18%
Serving 73,000 students, PCC is the largest post-secondary institution and one of the largest online community colleges in Oregon. The school has four campuses located around the greater Portland area and offers more than 21 online degrees and certificates . Both online and on-campus students are required to complete an in-person placement test before taking classes.
PCC's online programs include associate degrees in management and supervisory development, gerontology, and health information management. The computer applications department offers an associate in administrative office work and a certificate in basic computer literacy and word processing. Some online coursework requires that students complete occasional lab activities or proctored exams at specific locations. Online students pay the same tuition as on-campus students.
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How We Ranked the Schools
To determine the best programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online master's in management information systems programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.
Education Trends in Oregon
Although Oregon's state spending on postsecondary education is lower than the national average, a slightly greater percentage of its residents have received associate, bachelor's, or master's degrees. Thus, even while the state government may not prioritize the needs of students, Oregonians possess a demonstrable thirst for higher education. These numbers are detailed in the chart below:
| Oregon | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Education Spending per Full-Time Student | $4.788 | $6,954 |
| Percent of Tax Revenue Allocated to Higher Education | 4.9% | 5.8% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with associate degree | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with bachelor's degree | 19.3% | 18.5% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with graduate degree or higher | 11.5% | 11.2% |
| Source: SHEEO and U.S. Census | ||
Paying for College in Oregon
The price of attaining your degree will be an important factor when deciding between programs. When researching traditional and online schools in Oregon, you should understand that tuition rates can vary considerably from one institution to the next. The tuition rate for public four-year schools, for example, is generally higher than the rate for public two-year schools, and Oregon charges slightly more in tuition than the average U.S. state.
Tuition Prices
Below are average tuition rates for public two-year and four-year colleges and universities in Oregon compared to rates in the U.S. overall. Note that these numbers do not include other costs, such as transportation, books, technology, housing, and child care.
Financial Aid
No matter where you attend college, be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . After completing the FAFSA, you may be offered grants, work-study awards, subsidized loans, and/or unsubsidized loans. Since they don't have to be paid back, you should always accept grants and scholarships first, followed by work-study awards that allow you to take part-time jobs on campus. When it comes to loans, you should accept any subsidized loans first, as the government pays the interest on them while you're attending college. Unsubsidized loans sometimes come with low interest rates, but interest will continue to build while you're in school.
Cost of Living by Region
As you look at potential colleges, remember to consider cost of living in your search. Rent and other housing costs vary greatly depending on where you live. Attending school in an expensive market will add significantly to the cost of your education and may also limit career options after you graduate. The table below features average housing costs in Portland and Eugene compared to other cities in the western United States.
Cost for Online Programs in Oregon
In general, you will have access to the same financial aid benefits no matter whether you are enrolled in on-campus or online schools in Oregon. Online programs tend to charge about the same tuition rates as their on-campus counterparts, although you may be able to save money on fees, transportation, books, child care, and other costs associated with attending classes in person. Be sure to factor in all the costs of pursuing your degree, beyond just tuition.
Scholarships for Oregon College Students
Can all Scholarships be Used for Online Programs?
In most cases, you may use scholarship funds to pay for school expenses at any of the accredited online colleges in Oregon. However, some scholarships come with specific program requirements. Be sure to check with the organization awarding each scholarship to make sure you can use the funds to cover tuition or related expenses for your program.
Employment Outlook in Oregon
Oregon benefits from a healthy economy, with an unemployment rate that's slightly lower than the U.S. average. The annual mean wage in the state is slightly higher than what workers earn in most other parts of the country. The state's economy has also experienced notable growth in the healthcare, technology, and education sectors over the past several years. This makes Oregon a great place to earn a degree and land a job after you graduate.
| Oregon | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate, May 2017 | 4.1% | 4.3% |
| Annual Mean Wage, May 2016 | $49,710 | $49,630 |
| Source: BLS and BLS | ||
Top Employers and Industries in Oregon
Top Industries in Oregon
Food services: The largest Oregon industry for employment includes restaurants, bars, breweries, and related businesses. These businesses employ thousands of cooks, servers, bartenders, delivery drivers, managers, and caterers.
Administrative and support services: This sector includes executive assistants, receptionists, office clerks, laborers, and security guards. These jobs typically require a high school diploma or associate degree.
Health services: Health care is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the United States. It represents more than 55,000 jobs in Oregon alone. Health services includes primary care physicians, surgeons, nurses, psychiatrists, along with thousands of support staff.
Source: Oregon Blue Book
Top Employers in Oregon
Oregon Disaster Medical Team: 10,000 employees
Oregon State University: 8,000 employees
OHSU Hospital: 6,738 employees
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Accreditation for Colleges in Oregon
As you look at different online colleges in Oregon, one thing to be aware of is the importance of accreditation. When a school is accredited, it means it has met stringent standards for academic quality. There are two main types of accreditation: regional and national. Regional accreditation is generally considered more desirable, and schools must meet rigorous standards to achieve it. National accreditation usually applies to vocational and technical schools.
In general, there are no differences in accreditation for online programs versus more traditional on-campus options. To be sure a school is properly accredited, be sure to check that the school is listed with the Council on Higher Education Accreditation , which oversees regional accreditation bodies in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. For online schools in Oregon, you should look for accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities .
Resources for Students in Oregon
Office of Student Access and Completion : This state-based program helps students find the right higher education options for them, while also delivering various financial aid resources that help them complete their degrees.
TRiO Support Services : Many colleges and universities in Oregon offer TRiO, which provides resources to help students stay enrolled. The goal of the program is to increase retention and graduation rates while helping underrepresented students achieve their higher education goals.
College Housing Northwest : A nonprofit property management organization, CHNW offers affordable housing options for students attending various colleges and universities throughout Oregon. It currently has properties available to college students in Portland and Corvallis, with more locations under development.
College Possible : The Portland chapter of College Possible helps low-income individuals apply for and secure admission to Oregon colleges and universities. Each year, the nonprofit organization serves more than 470 high school and nearly 300 college students across the state. A majority of these students are people of color.
College Horizons : This national nonprofit partners with colleges and universities, including several in Oregon, to help Native American students apply for and enroll in school. The organization also connects students with various scholarship opportunities to help them pay for college.
Minds Matter Portland : This nonprofit organization helps low-income high school students succeed in college and beyond. Among its support services are assistance with college and financial aid applications.