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 2026

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

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

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.

Key Takeaways

Many of the best research universities in Oregon are also ranked among the most affordable colleges in the state.
Some of Oregon’s best research universities are also powerhouses in sports.
Oregon is known for its natural beauty, drawing many students to study in this state.

Table of Contents

Best Research Universities in Oregon in 2026

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

This list identifies the best research universities in Oregon for 2026, focused on institutions that sustain substantial STEM doctoral programs and active research agendas. Readers searching this title want a concise, practical guide to which Oregon universities provide the most robust research infrastructure, graduate training, lab access, and faculty-led project opportunities—especially in science, technology, engineering, and math.

We include only fully accredited institutions that award doctoral degrees across STEM fields and that offer meaningful student research participation. Below you will find our ranked set of 5 research universities in Oregon, with notes on strengths, research capacity, and considerations for prospective undergraduate and graduate students.

Best Research Universities in Oregon

Last Year’s Ranking:
1. University of Oregon
2. Oregon State University
3. Portland State University
4. Pacific University
5. George Fox University
#1
University of Oregon
Eugene , OR
#1 Best Public Colleges in Oregon 2026 #1 Best Colleges in Oregon 2026 #1 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2026 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2026
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
71%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1245/26
Career Outlook for degree at University of Oregon
Cost of Degree: $14,751
Expenses: $20,052
Starting Salary: $66,990
Cost Recoup Time: 11 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 2026 #2 Best Public Colleges in Oregon 2026 #2 Best Colleges in Oregon 2026 #2 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2026
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
68%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1270/27
Career Outlook for degree at Oregon State University
Cost of Degree: $13,494
Expenses: $18,711
Starting Salary: $67,894
Cost Recoup Time: 10 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 Public Colleges in Oregon 2026 #3 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2026 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2026 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
53%
Student body
25K
Career Outlook for degree at Portland State University
Cost of Degree: $10,617
Expenses: $16,785
Starting Salary: $62,447
Cost Recoup Time: 9 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: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Accounting

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Business Technology And Analytics

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Business Technology And Analytics

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Human Resources Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Human Resources Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Management And Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Management And Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Supply And Logistics Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Criminology And Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Criminology And Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Arts And Letters

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Cultural History Of The Arts

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Liberal Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Liberal Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Philosophy

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Philosophy

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Social Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Social Work

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Public Health Studies: Aging

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Public Health Studies: Aging

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Public Health Studies: Community Health Promotion

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Public Health Studies: Community Health Promotion

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BS in Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
BA in Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: 4 years
Format: Fully online
Compare school
#4
Pacific University
Forest Grove , OR
#4 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2026 #6 Best Small Colleges in Oregon 2026 #6 Best Private Colleges in Oregon 2026 #9 Best Colleges in Oregon 2026
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
71%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/23
Career Outlook for degree at Pacific University
Cost of Degree: $54,466
Expenses: $17,908
Starting Salary: $67,497
Cost Recoup Time: 17 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 2026 #5 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2026 #7 Best Private Colleges in Oregon 2026 #9 Best Small Colleges in Oregon 2026
Tuition + fees
$44K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
69%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1205/24
Career Outlook for degree at George Fox University
Cost of Degree: $40,940
Expenses: $18,800
Starting Salary: $62,873
Cost Recoup Time: 16 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
Mathematics
History
Literature
Engineering
Communications
Medical
Education

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
Format: Fully online
BS in Project Management

Required Credits: 126
Format: Fully online
BS in Elementary Education

Required Credits: 120
Format: Fully online
BA in Social And Behavioral Studies

Required Credits: 126
Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration

Required Credits: 126
Format: Fully 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 2026

Key Takeaways

Best Research Universities in Oregon in 2026

Best Research Universities in Oregon

Last Year’s Ranking:

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