In order to provide prospective students with the best chance at having a great education, we have compiled this list of the top universities and colleges in Oregon. Some schools may excel at online programs while others may focus exclusively on the traditional, on-campus aspect of higher education. Regardless of the delivery format, these schools excel at providing a quality education for their students.
Oregon is one of 16 member states participating in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Inclusion in this commission grants numerous benefits to online learners, such as significantly lower tuition rates and interstate cooperation that allow students to pursue degree and certificate programs that aren’t available in their home state. The best colleges in Oregon feature certificates, bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees.
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Efforts to improve online education in Oregon began in 1995 with the creation of the Oregon Public Education Network (OPEN), a coordinated online network that gave students and teachers access to technology-based instruction. Though OPEN was disbanded in 2006, online education remains a top priority in Oregon. By the 2002-03 academic year — just seven years after the founding of OPEN — more than 30,000 community college students were participating in online learning opportunities, and the Oregon University System was offering more than 800 web-based courses.
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linfield College | McMinnville, Oregon |
| 2 | Oregon State University | Corvallis, Oregon |
| 3 | Oregon Institute of Technology | Klamath Falls, Oregon |
| 4 | Portland State University | Portland, Oregon |
| 5 | Warner Pacific College | Portland, Oregon |
Here are the Best Online Colleges in Oregon
Linfield College
Linfield College offers several different online degrees. Courses include eight-degree programs, 17 certificate programs, and five minors. Online minor degrees offered include Creative Writing and Environmental Studies. In addition to these associated opportunities, students can pursue full bachelors degrees in traditional disciplines including, but not limited to accounting, international business, management, marketing, and project management.
Oregon State University
Located in Corvallis, Oregon State offers one of the highest numbers of online programs at its university. From the likes of French and Spanish to computer science and economics, OSU ranks as the best online college in Oregon due to his number of programs and cheap tuition cost. Prospective students having difficulty choosing an online program can take part in OSU’s Ecampus university exploratory studies program, in which candidates sample classes. The school offers online programs in bachelor’s degrees as well as master’s degrees.
Oregon Institute of Technology
Oregon Institute of Technology’s online programs for the certificate, associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees are one of the top-ranked programs in Oregon. From that, Oregon Tech Online provides students with the opportunity to earn their degree without leaving their home or office, and without the hassles of travel, childcare or giving up current jobs. Students can receive and submit assignments and interact with instructors and classmates through the online learning management system. Online students have access to various academic resources. Not to mention, Oregon Tech offers online degree completion programs at affordable rates. Online students may be eligible for financial aid. Also, there is no out-of-state surcharge for non-Oregon residents.
Portland State University
One of the bigger online programs, Portland State offers innovative undergraduate degrees and certificates, with bachelor’s programs in arts and letters; criminology and criminal justice; liberal studies; management and leadership; social work; and supply and logistics management. All programs include an assigned personal program manager to help keep students on track with their academic and professional goals. Also, PSU courses are taught by the same faculty as those on-campus and include opportunities to collaborate with peers through video conferencing and team projects. Portland State is a public research university with a mission to “let knowledge serve the city” in finding innovative solutions to local and global issues.
Warner Pacific College
Warner Pacific College offers online courses through the Adult Degree Program. These are accelerated courses meant to help students complete their degree as quick as possible. Currently, Warner Pacific offers the following online programs: Associate of Arts in Organizational Dynamics, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Health Care Administration, Bachelor of Human Development, Master of Science in Management & Organizational Leadership, and their new Master of Arts in Human Services. The Adult Degree Program at Warner Pacific has special requisites: prospective students must have completed at least 48 college credits, have a cumulative 2.0 GPA, and worked full-time for at least two years before applying. Classes begin at the start of each month, which allows students to start working on their degree program whenever their schedule permits.
University of Oregon
Distance programs at the University of Oregon are perfect for students who have a busy work and life schedule. Currently, fully online undergraduate degrees are not available at the university. However, students can enroll in online courses from some academic programs. Online students use the online management system Canvas and the information system DuckWeb as their primary sources of the resource. Tuition and fees vary depending on the courses. Various online courses have self-support fees which are a flat rate fee that replaces education and is the same for all students.
Eastern Oregon University
Eastern Oregon University offers a variety of associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees that can be completed by students online. Some programs, such as the Emergency Medical Services Administration program, is only available in the online format. Over 40 programs are available to students. Most of the traditional programs can be found online. Some of the mentionable programs include Fire Service Administration and Native American Studies.
Multnomah University
Multnomah University offers a choice of four online bachelor degrees in Bible and theology, business administration, business and organizational psychology, and psychology. All 124-credit programs at MU open the door to a variety of career options. Multnomah also offers two accelerated degree completion programs, for students with previous college experience, in applied psychology and business management. Courses are asynchronous, and most students dedicate a minimum of 10 hours each week to coursework. Students may be eligible to transfer up to 80 credits from an accredited institution towards their degree requirements.
Corban University
Corban University, located in Salem, offers two 129-semester credit degrees are available: business and psychology. As mentioned, the first offers concentrations in accounting, leadership and management, and marketing. The second offers two concentrations, one in family studies and the other in pre-counseling/clinical. The core curriculum contains topics of study like lifespan development, industrial psychology, and psychology and Christianity.
Willamette University
Willamette is a nationally renowned private university in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, as the first university in the western U.S., Willamette has become a leader in civic engagement and service. Our beautiful campus — located across the street from the Oregon State Capitol — features a residential undergraduate College of Arts & Sciences and graduate programs in the College of Law and the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Small classes, close student-faculty relationships, a commitment to collaborative research and a variety of programs provide an environment where teaching and learning flourish.
George Fox University
George Fox offers a hybrid online management and organizational leadership degree. The course is designed specifically for working adults. GFU has some programs with either full or partial online elements so that students can choose degrees that match align with their professional commitments. Many of the education degrees offered at GFU have online components, including Doctor of Education, Masters of Art in Teaching, and Master of Education.
Ranking Method
The order of the list was determined by a number of factors including graduation rates, number of online programs (if applicable), tuition cost, and other factors.
We know that finding the best school to fit your unique needs is a huge challenge. For that reason, we work hard to develop lists of the best schools based on the characteristics most important for you. Whether that be cost of attendance, student success, resources available, flexibility of schedule, or any other number of important factors, we’ve got you covered. For more information about our ranking process and to find lists of schools based on specific characteristics, check out our methodology page.
We invite schools featured and not featured to please suggest what else makes them one of the best colleges in Oregon.
