POPULATION (2021): 4.3 million
CAPITAL: Salem
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN OREGON: Oregon State University
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN OREGON: University of Portland
Oregon is a large state in the Pacific Northwest that has one of the vastest arrays of landscapes in the country. The mountains in the central and eastern parts of the state are some of the biggest in the country, and the coastal regions are mostly untouched (and protected, to keep it that way), offering some of the most awesome natural views in the country.
There are 7 major public universities, as well as 17 community colleges, some of which serve student bodies much larger than their 4-year college counterparts. The oldest university in the Western United States, Willamette (1942) is in Oregon, as are all of these other schools!
Universities in Oregon- 4-Year Colleges and Online
Oregon takes its education seriously, and the enrollment numbers at the public universities certainly back that up (Oregon State has nearly 35,000 students, and Portland State has more than 26,000). Here is a look at the rest of the 4-year colleges in Oregon.
Public Universities in Oregon
The University of Oregon is, perhaps, the most nationally recognizable Oregon school, with much thanks to successful sports programs, but it is only the 3rd-largest 4-year university in Oregon, behind OSU and Portland State, mentioned above. Here are the 4 other public universities in Oregon that offer 4-year degrees:
- Western Oregon University
- Southern Oregon University
- Oregon Institute of Technology
- Eastern Oregon University
Private Universities in Oregon
Like many Western states, the private universities in Oregon are much smaller than their public counterparts. Pacific University and Lewis & Clark College are two of the more popular private universities in Oregon, as is Willamette, the oldest college in the Western U.S. Here are the other prominent private universities in Oregon:
- Reed College
- The University of Western States
- Pacific Northwest College of Art
- Corban University
- Linfield University
- the University of Portland
- Warner Pacific University
- Bushnell University
- George Fox University
Community Colleges in Oregon
Oregon has 17 community colleges throughout the state, and several of them are very large (and even offer a few 4-year degrees). With online offerings as well, the community college system of Oregon is a great choice for students who may be undecided or simply don’t want to attend school for 4-years and endure the costs that come with it. Here are the schools in the Oregon Community College System:
- Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC), Pendleton
- Central Oregon Community College (COCC), Bend
- Chemeketa Community College (Chemeketa CC), Salem
- Clackamas Community College (Clackamas CC), Oregon City
- Clatsop Community College (Clatsop CC), Astoria
- Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC), The Dalles
- Klamath Community College (KCC), Klamath Falls
- Lane Community College (LCC), Eugene
- Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC), Albany
- Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC), Gresham
- Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC), Newport
- Portland Community College (PCC), Portland
- Rogue Community College (RCC), Grants Pass
- Southwestern Oregon Community College (SOCC), Coos Bay
- Tillamook Bay Community College (TBCC), Tillamook
- Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC), Ontario
- Umpqua Community College (UCC), Roseburg
Prominent Online Colleges in Oregon
Oregon has a low cost of living for a coastal state, and as such, it is becoming a trend to move to Oregon and attend college online. Some students do this for colleges outside of the state, but Oregon universities are starting to offer more and more online degrees to their residents to encourage online college students to take in-state courses, even if they won’t be setting foot in a classroom. Oregon State is a frontrunner in online offerings to students in Oregon.
Universities in Portland, OR
Here is a quick-reference list of all the universities and colleges that offer 4-year degrees in Oregon’s biggest city, Portland.
- American College of Healthcare Sciences
- Concordia University-Portland
- Lewis & Clark College
- Linfield College-School of Nursing
- Multnomah University
- National University of Natural Medicine
- Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
- Oregon Health & Science University
- Pacific Northwest of College and Art
- Portland State University
- Reed College
- University of Portland
- University of Western States
- Warner Pacific University
Get to Know Oregon
Oregon, specifically Portland, is proudly “weird,” and the college experience definitely is unique. For people from elsewhere in the United States, the beauty of the Pacific Northwest stops them in their tracks, and in 4-years of college breaks, it’s still impossible to explore the entire state.
Oregon has the most miles of protected coast in the entire country (and California and Florida have a lot more coastline… it’s just lined with buildings) and the state’s dedication to the preservation of its beauty is very noticeable.
For winter sports enthusiasts, the skiing and boarding season in Oregon is usually more than 5-months long, but don’t worry! That doesn’t mean it’s cold that whole time. Several glaciers in Oregon keep the snow cold even when the air is quite enjoyable, and it’s not a rarity to see an Oregonite in snow pants and a tank top!