Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Oregon. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.
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.
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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.
Oregon is a good place to study, especially among college students. Whether you are looking for a large research university or a small, intimate campus community, you have a lot of options.
Oregon is popular for ts beautiful natural environment, safe communities, magnificent mountains, and scenic ocean beaches. This is another reason why students love to study in this state because of the many recreational activities they can do all year round.
Since going to college is undeniably expensive, finding the most affordable colleges in Oregon is important. And knowing the best sources for scholarships and other forms of financial aid available to students in Oregon is of equal importance.
In Oregon, there are many financial aid options to help you support your education goals. Most colleges and universities within the Oregon university system offer merit-based aid, need-based aid, student loans, as well as work-study programs.
The HECC OSAC or Office of Student Access and Completion handles state financial aid for Oregonians, including the state’s biggest need-based grant program called the Oregon Opportunity Grant.
The first step to obtaining federal and state aid for college is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Non-US citizen students who do not qualify for federal aid can check the federal guidelines related to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals for possible options. In Oregon, these students may qualify for some state financial aid programs by submitting the Oregon Student Aid Application, Oregon’s alternative to the FAFSA.
Here are some state financial aid programs for Oregon residents.
Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG): This is Oregon’s largest state-funded, need-based grant program created to help students pay for college either at public universities, public community colleges, or some participating private institutions.
OSAC Scholarships: There are over 500 private scholarships for Oregon students who wish to continue college and career training after high school.
Oregon Promise: This provides funds for Oregon high school students who recently graduated, as well as GED recipients to enroll in any Oregon community college.
Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance Grant: This is a program that affords funds for tuition at any Oregon public universities and community colleges for qualified service members of the Oregon Air National Guard and the Oregon Army National Guard.
Oregon Tribal Student Grant: This grant provides funding for qualified Oregon tribal students to offset the cost of attendance at any eligible Oregon university or college.
To qualify, you must be a certified member of any of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon:
Chafee Grant: This grant provides funding for postsecondary education and training to children who went through the foster care system.
Applicants must be currently in a child foster care or have been in one for 180 days (six months) after their 13th birthday and exited substitute care at age 14 or older.
Childcare Grant: This program is designed to help parents enrolled in postsecondary education receive safe and dependable care that supports their child’s development while they complete their academic programs.
To qualify, students must be an Oregon resident with a child age 12 and under in need of child care. The childcare provider must also be listed with the Oregon Department of Human Services, or registered and certified with the Oregon Child Care Division.
Barber and Hairdresser Grant: This is a one-time grant provided to qualified low-income students who are attending a licensed school of barbering, cosmetology, hair design, or manicure in Oregon that participates in Federal Title IV student aid opportunities and the Grant Program.
Deceased or Disabled Public Safety Officer Grant: This is a program that assists qualified dependents of Oregon public safety officers who became disabled or perished in the line of duty.
For more information, check out the Affordability Strategies of Oregon’s Highest Education Coordinating Commission.
There are 8 colleges and universities in Oregon with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Oregon is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.
These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
74%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1190/25
University of Oregon’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
68%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/25
Oregon State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
54%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/20
Portland State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
41%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/21
Southern Oregon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
48%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1072/19
Western Oregon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
38%
Student body
2K
Eastern Oregon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
56%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/23
Oregon Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
34%
Student body
<1K
Warner Pacific University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in: