Best Public Colleges in Oregon 2025
Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Oregon provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.
Key Takeaways
- Oregon’s top public colleges often emphasize sustainability in their operations and academics. Many offer programs and initiatives focused on environmental science, green technology, and sustainability practices, which attract students interested in environmental stewardship and green careers.
- The best public colleges in Oregon are known for their research facilities, particularly in fields like environmental studies, engineering, and health sciences. They provide students with hands-on research experiences and partnerships with local industries, fostering valuable skills and career connections.
- Many public colleges in Oregon are located near scenic areas, offering easy access to mountains, beaches, and forests. This encourages a vibrant outdoor culture, with opportunities for activities like hiking, skiing, and beach trips, which appeal to students who value a balance between academics and outdoor life.
Best Public Colleges in Oregon in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
There are no changes to our ranking of the best public colleges in Oregon for 2025. This was a result of all the schools in the ranking making similar improvements to their curriculum, internship opportunities, and other program features.
This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 7 public universities in Oregon. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Oregon, schools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
Best Public Colleges in Oregon
- #1 Best Colleges in Oregon 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2025 #1 Best Research Universities in Oregon 2025
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
73%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/27
Career Outlook for degree at University of Oregon
Cost of Degree: $14,751Expenses: $20,052Starting Salary: $51,300Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Oregon known for?
University of Oregon’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Communications
- History
- Business
- Education
- Social Work
- Literature
- Biology
Most Influential Alumni
- #15 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Oregon 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2025
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
70%
Student body
40K
Career Outlook for degree at Oregon State University
Cost of Degree: $13,494Expenses: $18,711Starting Salary: $56,700Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Oregon State University known for?
Oregon State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2025 #3 Best Research Universities in Oregon 2025 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
53%
Student body
28K
Career Outlook for degree at Portland State University
Cost of Degree: $10,617Expenses: $16,785Starting Salary: $50,800Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Portland State University known for?
Portland State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Criminal Justice
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Political Science
- Literature
- Business
- History
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
Portland State University’s Online Degrees
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business Technology And Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Business Technology And Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Human Resources Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Human Resources Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Management And Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Management And Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Supply And Logistics Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Criminology And Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Criminology And Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Arts And Letters
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Cultural History Of The Arts
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Philosophy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Philosophy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Social Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Health Studies: Aging
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Public Health Studies: Aging
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Health Studies: Community Health Promotion
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Public Health Studies: Community Health Promotion
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #5 Best Small Colleges in Oregon 2024 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Oregon 2025 #10 Best Colleges in Oregon 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
46%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for degree at Southern Oregon University
Cost of Degree: $12,093Expenses: $18,747Starting Salary: $43,400Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Southern Oregon University known for?
Southern Oregon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Education
- Communications
- Biology
- Criminal Justice
- Anthropology
- Political Science
- Business
- Mathematics
- Nursing
- Literature
Most Influential Alumni
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #6 Best Small Colleges in Oregon 2024 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Oregon 2025 #4 Best Online Master's Programs in Oregon 2024
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
48%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Western Oregon University
Cost of Degree: $11,025Expenses: $15,381Starting Salary: $43,400Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Western Oregon University known for?
Western Oregon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Criminal Justice
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Education
- Mathematics
- History
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #8 Best Small Colleges in Oregon 2024 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Oregon 2025 #5 Best Online MBA Programs in Oregon
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
38%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Oregon University
Cost of Degree: $10,709Expenses: $17,517Starting Salary: $44,100Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Eastern Oregon University known for?
Eastern Oregon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Chemistry
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Economics
- Education
- Business
- History
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
- #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #9 Best Small Colleges in Oregon 2024 #10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Oregon 2025 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Oregon
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
57%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1152/26
Career Outlook for degree at Oregon Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $12,687Expenses: $16,236Starting Salary: $57,800Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Oregon Institute of Technology known for?
Oregon Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Oregon’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.
