Best Colleges in Oregon of 2024

The University of Oregon is a Tier 1 public research university with a 295-acre campus on the bank of the Willamette River in Eugene. The school also has a Portland campus, a Charleston marine station, and the Pine Mountain Observatory in central Oregon. The university is known for state-of-the-art research opportunities for students, with 74% engaged in research activity. UO has more than 300 undergraduate programs and 80+ graduate subject areas housed in nine schools and colleges, including a school of journalism and communications, a college of design, and a school of law. The university currently has more than 22,000 students, 32% of whom are ethnic and racial minorities. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, and the median class size is 20. There are 10 residence halls, with meal plans included for all residents. The sports teams, the Ducks, compete in Division I of the NCAA.

Oregon State University is a public land-grant institution and Oregon's largest university, with roughly 34,000 students. In addition to the main campus in Corvallis, the university has a presence in Bend and Portland, as well as the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. The university has a heavy focus on research, accumulating a record $383 million in competitive research grants and contracts in 2022. With 4,700 faculty, there is a student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1. There are more than 200 undergraduate program options and 100 at the graduate level in 11 colleges, along with a graduate school and an honors college, which allows students to engage deeply with their areas of interest. Residence halls include traditional, suite-style, and apartment-style living arrangements. The university's 16 varsity sports teams, the Beavers, compete in Division I of the NCAA. The home field for the football team is 46,000-seat Reser Stadium.

The University of Portland is a private Catholic institution in Portland that is affiliated with the Congregation of the Holy Cross. It has roughly 4,200 students who can choose from a range of undergraduate programs like civil engineering, marketing, and organizational communication, all of which are based on a liberal arts core curriculum. At the graduate level, there are master's programs in education, management, and more, as well as doctoral programs in education and nursing practice. UP is nationally ranked #23 for study abroad participation among its peer schools. Students may live on campus in 11 traditional residence halls and apartment-style buildings, and UP also owns rental houses in nearby Portland. UP currently hosts two detachments of the ROTC. The school's varsity sports teams, the Pilots, are in Division I of the NCAA, and the men's cross country team is considered one of the top NCAA teams in the country.

Reed College is a private liberal arts institution in the Eastmoreland neighborhood of Portland. Its 116-acre campus features a forested nature preserve at its center. Reed is often referred to as one of the most intellectual colleges in the country, and its alumni include Steve Jobs, founder of Apple; Larry Sanger, who co-founded Wikipedia; and award-winning writer and chef James Beard. Reed's 1,400 undergraduate students can choose from 40 majors and programs, including biochemistry, linguistics, and political science. All students take a year-long humanities course, yet the focus on humanities continues throughout the college experience. Reed also offers one Master of Arts degree program in liberal studies. Residence halls are divided into "neighborhoods," with each year housed together. There are also five language houses. Reed does not participate in the NCAA, but students have a broad range of club sports and fitness facilities, including a swimming pool, climbing wall, and backpack co-op.

Located in the vibrant, progressive city of South Portland, Lewis & Clark College is a private, liberal arts college that offers students a range of options for dining, learning, and exploring. The 137-acre campus is contiguous with the 645-acre Tryon Creek State Natural Area. The college has three schools: a college of arts and sciences, a law school that is best known for its environmental law program, and a graduate school of education and counseling. Undergraduates can choose from 29 majors and 33 minor programs, which range from biochemistry and molecular biology to Asian studies. Sixty percent of undergraduates spend at least part of their college experience studying overseas. All classes are grounded in critical thinking, written and verbal communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. There are 15 residence halls that host about half of the school's 2,000+ undergrads. The college's 21 varsity sports teams, the Pioneers, compete in NCAA Division III.

Linfield University is a private institution in McMinnville, with a satellite campus in Portland that houses a school of nursing. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and certificate-level programs both online and in the classroom. Linfield enrolls nearly 2,000 students, 34% of whom are the first members of their families to attend college. Of all first-year students, 94% receive financial aid, with the average financial aid package totaling more than $28,000. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1, with an average class size of 15. The academic calendar is 4-1-4, with a short January term between the spring and fall semesters. Linfield has 13 residence halls and five apartment complexes. All students are required to live on campus through their third year - the first two years in a dormitory-style living arrangement, and the third year in an on-campus apartment. Linfield's Wildcats varsity teams compete in NCAA Division III.

Corban University is a private Christian university in Salem with approximately 1,200 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. All coursework is built on a foundation of biblical scholarship and a Christian worldview, and all undergraduates leave with a Bible minor integrated into their major program of study. Corbin offers more than 50 majors and programs in the humanities, business, education, technology, and more. The student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1. The school has a robust Theology of Multicultural Inclusion statement, which informs the work of the school's Center for Global Engagement. All freshmen and sophomores live on campus in one of four residence halls; townhouses are available for juniors and seniors. The varsity-level athletics teams, the Warriors, participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

George Fox University was founded in 1891 by the Quakers and is named for the denomination's founder. The main campus is in Newberg, with satellite campuses in Portland and Redmond. There are 80+ undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs for the school's 4,000+ students to choose from. The student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1, and the average GPA of incoming students is 3.7/4.0. All of the university's traditional students at the undergraduate level receive financial aid, and students average 40% less in student loans at graduation than the national average. In addition to programs for traditional students, the university has a robust range of online degree completion programs for adult learners, including health care administration, project management, and elementary education. The university has 11 residence halls ranging from traditional rooms to suites. The school's 23 varsity athletic teams, the Bruins, are members of Division III in the NCAA.

Portland State University is a public research institution in Portland with an enrollment of more than 23,000 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1. The school's 18,000 undergrads can choose from more than 100 degree programs in psychology, health studies, marketing, and more, whereas graduate students can choose social work, education, engineering, computer science, and education. Sixty-five percent of students receive financial aid, and there are several programs that provide free or discounted tuition to students who qualify. Such programs include the Four Years Free program, which covers base tuition and mandatory fees for qualified incoming full-time freshmen who are Oregon residents and Pell Grant eligible. A range of student housing options is available, with freshmen eligible for first-year communities, and housing options for honors students, international students, graduate students, families, and those with disabilities. The Vikings varsity sports teams compete in Division I of the NCAA.