Find the best online colleges in Oregon ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

Although its competitive job market presents some difficulties, Oregon has several benefits that make it a desirable location to pursue a degree and establish a career.

Oregon is famous for its progressive policies, which support the general well-being of its citizens. These policies include strong environmental initiatives, access to healthcare, and educational opportunities.

Because of this, despite the difficulties associated with unemployment, a lot of people are driven to Oregon because of its distinctive combination of economic prospects, natural beauty, and quality of life, making it a place where people are eager to put their time and effort into creating a better future.

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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.

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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.

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Oregon’s Best Overall

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree in Oregon costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend.

In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,394. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $28,445.

An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online college.

But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses.

Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

Certain online colleges, particularly private schools, implement a flat-rate tuition policy. Under this pricing structure, students from out-of-state or non-resident students are billed a consistent, fixed tuition fee, regardless of their residency status. Out-of-state students have the same tuition rate as their in-state counterparts, ensuring that education costs remain stable and potentially lightening the financial load of enrolling in a university in a different state.

But for schools that do not have a flat-rate tuition policy, out-of-state students need to meet specific criteria to qualify for lower in-state tuition rates. The main thing you need to do is prove that you’ve lived in Oregon for a whole year before you start online college. This proves you’re a resident.

There are, however, instances in which students are dependent on someone’s taxes. If this is your case, your residency status will depend on that person’s permanent residency status.

To be seen as an independent student, you can’t be listed as a dependent on another person’s tax return from the previous year. If you’ve recently moved to Oregon, you might have to give more proof that you really plan to stay in Oregon for good.

If this is your first time taking online courses, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently.

You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online programs, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college in Oregon, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that employers in Oregon will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online graduate programs to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work.

In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials.

And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online college will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online college, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine Oregon's best online master's degree programs?

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.

college student meeting with another student to discuss online programs

Best Online Master’s Program in Oregon 2023

Growing Industries in Oregon

Considering what type of college degree you are interested in before applying for online programs is highly important. A master’s degree can be your way to financial freedom or burden. While online colleges are known to be the more affordable way to pursue a degree, it’s still likely to cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

While it’s crucial to opt for online programs that align with your existing skills, it’s equally important to factor in the growth prospects of your chosen field. Understanding and capitalizing on the state’s growth can enhance career opportunities, progression, and long-term job security.

Oregon’s thriving industries offer a promising landscape for future professional development. You can find many online master’s programs tailored to your needs and aspirations. According to Business Oregon, the top industries in the state are:

Metals and Machinery
Business Services
Food and Beverages
Forestry and Wood Products
High Technology
Outdoor Gear and Apparel
Bioscience

When exploring online programs, remember these growing industries. Choose a degree program that fits your objectives, and make sure that it aligns with Oregon’s job market growth. If you plan to use your degree in other states, research the state’s specific job market growth.

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Oregon 2024

Top Online Master's Programs in Oregon

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Colleges and Universities in Oregon

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Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

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Can out-of-state students pay in-state tuition?

What can I expect from online courses in Oregon?

Will employers in Oregon respect my online degree?

What are the advantages of online classes in Oregon?

What are the disadvantages of online classes in Oregon?

Best Online Master’s Program in Oregon 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Oregon

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Career Outlook for degree at Oregon State University

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Career Outlook for degree at Western Oregon University

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Western States

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Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Oregon University

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Career Outlook for degree at Southern Oregon University

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Growing Industries in Oregon

Oregon’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest