Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities in Oregon 2024

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN OREGON RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. James Barham

Published: May 3, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Interested in attending a STEM school in Oregon? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

Best Research Universities in Oregon 2024

University of Oregon
Oregon State University
Portland State University
Pacific University
George Fox University

University of Oregon
Oregon State University
Portland State University
Pacific University
George Fox University

Portland State University 93%
Pacific University 92%
George Fox University 92%
University of Oregon 86%
Oregon State University 83%

University of Oregon 20 to 1
Oregon State University 19 to 1
Portland State University 17 to 1
George Fox University 15 to 1
Pacific University 9 to 1

Pacific University $52,072
George Fox University $39,540
University of Oregon $11,674
Oregon State University $10,425
Portland State University $8,400

Pacific University $36,103
University of Oregon $16,011
George Fox University $15,516
Portland State University $15,048
Oregon State University $13,446

George Fox University
Pacific University
Portland State University
Oregon State University
University of Oregon

George Fox University
Pacific University
Portland State University
Oregon State University
University of Oregon

Oregon State University 83%
University of Oregon 86%
George Fox University 92%
Pacific University 92%
Portland State University 93%

Pacific University 9 to 1
George Fox University 15 to 1
Portland State University 17 to 1
Oregon State University 19 to 1
University of Oregon 20 to 1

Portland State University $8,400
Oregon State University $10,425
University of Oregon $11,674
George Fox University $39,540
Pacific University $52,072

Oregon State University $13,446
Portland State University $15,048
George Fox University $15,516
University of Oregon $16,011
Pacific University $36,103

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

How do we determine Oregon's best research 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.

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 5 research universities in Oregon. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Best Research Universities in Oregon 2023

#1
University of Oregon
Eugene , OR
#1 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2024 #1 Best Colleges in Oregon 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Oregon 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024
Other Rankings
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: $14,112
Expenses: $18,585
Starting Salary: $51,300
Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What 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

Douglas Hofstadter
Douglas Engelbart
Kent Beck
Ken Kesey
David Ray Griffin
John Markoff
Walter Houser Brattain
Randy Shilts
PZ Myers
Lee Bollinger
John Alan Robinson
Daniel Levitin
Compare school
#2
Oregon State University
Corvallis , OR
#15 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #2 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Oregon 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Oregon 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
70%
Student body
40K
Career Outlook for degree at Oregon State University
Cost of Degree: $12,664
Expenses: $17,679
Starting Salary: $56,700
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Oregon State University known for?

Oregon State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Earth Sciences
Biology
Engineering
Computer Science
Mathematics
History
Education
Physics
Business

Most Influential Alumni

Linus Pauling
Douglas Engelbart
Michael Waterman
Katharine Jefferts Schori
Derald Wing Sue
Gary Payton
George Andrews
Paul Hugh Emmett
Jerald Ericksen
Philip Emeagwali
William J. Ripple
George I. Mavrodes
Compare school
#3
Portland State University
Portland , OR
#3 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2024 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #3 Best Public Colleges in Oregon 2024 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
53%
Student body
28K
Career Outlook for degree at Portland State University
Cost of Degree: $10,206
Expenses: $18,639
Starting Salary: $50,800
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What 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

Peter Boghossian
Michael Kazin
Melanie Mitchell
Charles Moose
Alexander Reid Ross
Bill Plympton
Thomas Talbott
Hans G. Furth
Mike Richardson
Dali Yang
Jill Mikucki
Amos Yong
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
Compare school
#4
Pacific University
Forest Grove , OR
#4 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2024 #5 Best Private Colleges in Oregon 2024 #7 Best Small Colleges in Oregon 2024 #9 Best Colleges in Oregon 2024
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
66%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/23
Career Outlook for degree at Pacific University
Cost of Degree: $52,072
Expenses: $17,258
Starting Salary: $51,400
Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Pacific University known for?

Pacific University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Medical
Social Work
Chemistry
Mathematics
Biology
Literature
Computer Science
Philosophy
Physics
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Loren Cordain
Thomas N. Hibbard
David G. Hebert
Gregg Lambert
Nancy Wilson
Robert T. Oliver
Liz Heaston
Compare school
#5
George Fox University
Newberg , OR
#3 Best Christian Colleges in Oregon 2024 #5 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2024 #7 Best Private Colleges in Oregon 2024 #2 Best Online Colleges in Oregon 2024
Other Rankings
- #15 Best Online Bachelor’s of Elementary Education Degree Programs for 2025
- #16 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Business Administration Doctorates
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
71%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/25
Career Outlook for degree at George Fox University
Cost of Degree: $39,540
Expenses: $16,850
Starting Salary: $51,000
Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is George Fox University known for?

George Fox University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Political Science
Biology
Philosophy
Mathematics
History
Literature
Engineering
Communications
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

Mark David Hall
Robert L. Saucy
Leonard Sweet
Mark Hatfield
Walter Richard Miles
Rolf Potts
Dan Kimball
Richard Foster
Daniel L. Smith-Christopher
Paul N. Anderson
Herbert Hoover
George Fox University’s Online Degrees
BS in Management And Organizational Leadership

Required Credits: 126
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Project Management

Required Credits: 126
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Elementary Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Social And Behavioral Studies

Required Credits: 126
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Find the Best Research Universities in Oregon for Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

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 research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Research Universities in Oregon 2024

Best Research Universities in Oregon 2024

Colleges and Universities in Oregon

What are Oregon’s Colleges & Universities?

Oregon’s Best Overall

Best Research Universities in Oregon 2023

University of Oregon

Career Outlook for degree at University of Oregon

Most Influential Alumni

Oregon State University

Career Outlook for degree at Oregon State University

Most Influential Alumni

Portland State University

Career Outlook for degree at Portland State University

Most Influential Alumni

Portland State University’s Online Degrees

Pacific University

Career Outlook for degree at Pacific University

Most Influential Alumni

George Fox University

Career Outlook for degree at George Fox University

Most Influential Alumni

George Fox University’s Online Degrees

Find the Best Research Universities in Oregon for Your Area of Interest