A Guide to Online Colleges in Oregon

Oregon State is one of the most democratic states in the nation, having voted for the democratic party every year since 1988. On the contrary, geographically speaking Oregon is an incredibly diverse state: bordered to the west by beautiful Pacific Ocean coastline with high deserts sprawling to the Great Basin, Volcano-studded cascades surrounded by countless waterways, and seemingly endless evergreen forests (or deciduous forests at lower altitudes). With nearly half of the state covered in forest it is no surprise that Oregon is renowned for outdoor adventures, agriculture, and its massive populations of diverse wildlife. Students in Oregon can expect a unique atmosphere where the land is dominated mostly by the great outdoors with several booming, one-of-a-kind metropolises such as Portland and the state's capital, Salem. With nearly half of the state covered in forests, home to "Oregon's Seven Wonders," the state's seven most incredible and unique wilderness adventures, Oregon is likely the perfect state for students who love the outdoors.

While one of the most notable perks of online education is the ability to complete schooling from anywhere, Oregon offers a number of reasons for both residents and prospective out-of-state students to seek online education within its borders. For instance, in-state tuition is often applied to public schools that offer online programs. Also, many online programs require some face-to-face time, or more numerous support services at their brick and mortar locations. Intensive study experiences — often on the weekends or in several week long bouts — enable many online students to accelerate their time until graduation and reduce overall tuition costs. And a factor that can often make the most impact is that students seeking online education can drastically expand their educational options if they also look to hybrid degrees (degrees where coursework is completed partially online with required courses or events on campus). Finally, one of the most common stipulations in scholarships is that students be from a certain state or region, and so often more funds are available to students seeking degrees in-state.

Featured Online Schools

Top Public Offerings in Oregon

There are four major online public universities in Oregon: Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, and Western Oregon University. Oregon's public online degree programs are mainly offered at the undergraduate level with a smaller number of online graduate programs available. Together these four schools offer a total of 87 online bachelor's degrees and 12 master's degrees. When discussing Oregon's public universities, however, a special emphasis must be placed on Oregon State University (OSU), which offers nearly half of the online degrees mentioned and receives more research funding than all of Oregon's other public education institutions combined. As the state's online land-grant institution it offers one the country's most beautiful campuses and consistently ranks among the highest undergraduate enrollment. OSU also consistently ranks among the best universities in the state according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, Washington Monthly, and QS World University Rankings. As of July 1, 2015, all of Oregon's public universities, previously under the authority of the State Board of Higher Education (SBHE), are governed by a governor-appointed, Senate approved, institutional boards of trustees. Thus public online education in Oregon is marked by heavy regulation and state oversight, meaning that students can expect online degree programs to adhere to very high standards — both in affordability and academic reputation.

Top Private Offerings in Oregon

There are six major private universities in Oregon: Linfield College, Marylhurst University, Linfield College-McMinnville Campus, Bushnell University, Willamette University, and Warner Pacific College. With far more major private universities in the state offering online degree programs it is counterintuitive that they would collectively offer less online degree options than the private institutions mentioned above, however, between the 7 major private universities only 36 online degree programs are offered in total. This is largely due to the fact that the online public degree offerings operate according to specific state-funded research projects, and thus cover an array of degree specializations and concentrations with highly focused areas of study, while the private universities focus on more general degrees that cover a wider array of topics. While there are certainly exceptions to the rule, it seems that students interested in highly specialized, research-driven online degrees will have more luck with public institutions, while private institutions offer online degrees with a broader, more career-oriented focus.

The 2016 national average for the annual cost of college based on the average of family income ($51,939) was $26,725. This number, however, incorporates the average impact of financial aid, housing, and other typical costs of the college experience. In 2016-17 the average published tuition and fee prices for in-state students at public four-year institutions ranges from $5,060 in Wyoming and $6,360 in Florida to $15,450 in Vermont and $15,650 in New Hampshire (CollegeBoard.org). According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2016 — 2017 school year was $33,480 at private colleges, $9,650 for state residents at public colleges, and $24,930 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. It is important to note here that private universities offer static tuition regardless of state residency, although some small extra fees may apply.

For the academic year 2015-2016, the average undergraduate tuition costs for Public Colleges in Oregon was $ 6,224 for in-state and $ 14,074 for out-of-state, placing both well under the national average tuition costs while still distinguishing the financial benefit of in-state tuition over out-of-state. The 2016 average private tuition in Oregon was $24,070, which is about $9,000 less than the national average. While Oregon's college tuition costs are lower across the board, the average cost of living is about 18% higher than the national average. The bulk of this increased cost, however, is for the most part due to higher costs in the housing market. But because distance-learning affords the freedom to live where you please, online students may be able to circumvent these costs through living in more affordable areas.

Sporting a population of over 633,000, Portland is Oregon's most populous city, and the 26th most populous city in the country. Located in the Willamette Valley Region where the Willamette and Columbia Rivers meet, Portland began as one of the most influential colonial ports of the 1800's. Portland experienced an economic boom after World War II which proceeded into the 21st century, centered around the industries of agriculture, timber, and technology. The city developed a well-known reputation for counterculture in the 1960's that persists today as one of the city's popular personas. According to a 2009 Pew Research Center study, Portland ranked as the nation's eighth most popular city based on where people want to live. The city operates with the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States — a commission-based government led by a mayor and four commissioners. The city government is notable for its land-use planning and investment in public transportation. Portland is has been recognized by numerous ranking entities as one of the world's most environmentally conscious cities, largely due to its high walkability, active cyclist community, farm-to-table dining, its expansive network of public transportation, and its 10,000 acres of public parks.

Oregon's capitol, Salem, is the state's third most populous city located along the Willamette River, which bisects the city into its two main counties. Salem is just an hour drive from Portland, though it is a powerhouse of its own. With a rich history rooted in the development of the colonial west, Salem offers an incredible variety of state monuments, parks, gardens, and historical tours. With a thriving tourism industry and four large colleges, Salem is an active and youthful city with a median resident age of just 35 — well below the state's resident median age. The State of Oregon is the city's largest employer, meaning that a very large portion of the city's residents enjoy state benefits. This also makes it an excellent location for students looking for internship or employment opportunities by the state.

Also located along the Willamette River is Eugene, Oregon, the state's second-most populous city. The Willamette River flows through the heart of Eugene where it connects with the McKenzie River, and is just about an hour's drive from the Pacific Coast. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon and Lane Community College, where student life recreational activities consist of a thriving night life, countless outdoor adventures, with a rich culture of arts and music. The city's slogan, "A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors" perfectly encapsulates the city's persona. The city is also known as "The Emerald City" for its vibrant green parks and forests, and as "Track Town" for its famously active running, track, and field athlete communities. The brand superpower, Nike Corporation, began in Eugene and has played an instrumental part in facilitating the city's hosting of the 18th Track and Field World Championships in 2021. Eugene is an excellent city for budding professional educators as two of the city's top employers are the University of Oregon and the Eugene School District.

The Best Online Colleges in Oregon

Monitoring the accreditation of a university you are interested in attending is incredibly important. Accreditation ensures your credits can transfer that you can receive Federal financial aid, and most importantly that certain standards of educational quality are during your schooling. The highest accreditation standard for most programs in the United States is provided by regional accreditation agencies. The regional accrediting agency for Oregon is the Northwest Accreditation Commission, one of six regional accrediting agencies responsible for accrediting schools in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Making sure that a University you're hoping to attend is regionally accredited — or accredited by a real and respected accrediting agency — is one of the most important choices you can make in ensuring the quality of your education.

Three Steps for Securing Financial Aid

• Submit your FAFSA.

• Check to see if additional forms are needed at your university of choice.

• Search and apply for private scholarships.

Through the previous three steps most students find themselves offered some sort of federal grant, work study, private grant, scholarship, or stipend.

Great Oregon Higher Education Resources

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