Best Private Colleges in Oregon 2024

Badge for BEST IN OREGON PRIVATE COLLEGES

Published: May 4, 2021
Updated: Oct 16, 2023

Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Oregon.

Reed College
University of Portland
Willamette University
Lewis & Clark College
Bushnell University
Pacific University
George Fox University
Warner Pacific University
Linfield University
Corban University

University of Portland 93%
Pacific University 92%
George Fox University 92%
Linfield University 89%
Willamette University 81%
Warner Pacific University 72%
Lewis & Clark College 69%
Bushnell University 67%
Corban University 35%
Reed College 31%

Corban University 15 to 1
George Fox University 15 to 1
Lewis & Clark College 13 to 1
Bushnell University 12 to 1
Willamette University 11 to 1
Linfield University 10 to 1
University of Portland 9 to 1
Pacific University 9 to 1
Reed College 9 to 1
Warner Pacific University 5 to 1

Reed College $64,760
Lewis & Clark College $59,684
Pacific University $52,072
University of Portland $51,812
Linfield University $47,415
Willamette University $45,260
George Fox University $39,540
Corban University $35,767
Bushnell University $33,220
Warner Pacific University $20,240

Willamette University $44,493
Pacific University $36,103
Linfield University $30,738
University of Portland $24,804
Lewis & Clark College $18,450
Bushnell University $17,875
George Fox University $15,516
Corban University $9,760
Warner Pacific University $9,000

Warner Pacific University
Bushnell University
Corban University
George Fox University
Linfield University
Pacific University
Lewis & Clark College
University of Portland
Willamette University
Reed College

Corban University
Linfield University
Warner Pacific University
George Fox University
Pacific University
Bushnell University
Lewis & Clark College
Willamette University
University of Portland
Reed College

Reed College 31%
Corban University 35%
Bushnell University 67%
Lewis & Clark College 69%
Warner Pacific University 72%
Willamette University 81%
Linfield University 89%
George Fox University 92%
Pacific University 92%
University of Portland 93%

Warner Pacific University 5 to 1
University of Portland 9 to 1
Pacific University 9 to 1
Reed College 9 to 1
Linfield University 10 to 1
Willamette University 11 to 1
Bushnell University 12 to 1
Lewis & Clark College 13 to 1
Corban University 15 to 1
George Fox University 15 to 1

Warner Pacific University $20,240
Bushnell University $33,220
Corban University $35,767
George Fox University $39,540
Willamette University $45,260
Linfield University $47,415
University of Portland $51,812
Pacific University $52,072
Lewis & Clark College $59,684
Reed College $64,760

Warner Pacific University $9,000
Corban University $9,760
George Fox University $15,516
Bushnell University $17,875
Lewis & Clark College $18,450
University of Portland $24,804
Linfield University $30,738
Pacific University $36,103
Willamette University $44,493

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Oregon

Oregon is home to over 40 higher education institutions, including Oregon State University, the largest in the state. More than 30,000 students are enrolled at this public research institution in Corvallis, and with a tuition of $11,000, the school comes in slightly above the national average. Students attending the next largest, the University of Oregon, will join in on a friendly intrastate rivalry against Oregon State. Though the tuition is higher at $12,000, the school boasts a student-faculty ratio of 16:1.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Of the 21 private institutions, 10 are religiously based. Concordia University has the largest student population at just under 5,000 and a tuition of $31,000. Students who attend this private Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod university can study fields such as chemistry, psychology, and history. Oregon’s community colleges range in tuition from $4,000 to $6,000. The least expensive four-year institution in the state, Portland State University (PSU), comes in at $8,000. Students attending PSU can study a range of fields, including environmental engineering, film, and international business, right in the heart of the city.

Gaze at the Pacific Ocean from the Oregon Coast Highway, which travels along the entire coastal edge of the state. Taste Pacific Northwest wines from the Willamette Valley, or take a bike ride through the streets of Portland. Students looking to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in The Beaver State can enjoy a great higher education experience set against a stunning natural backdrop.

Discover what Oregon has to offer, and find a college that fits your career interests as well as your budget.

What are Oregon’s Colleges & Universities?

Oregon’s Best Overall

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

How do we determine Oregon's best private colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 10 private universities in Oregon. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Oregon, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.