Best College ROI in Or 2026
22 colleges in Or analyzed for return on investment. Reed College leads with a ROI Score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY).
Or has 22 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 7 public institutions and 15 private ones. Across the 22 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $81K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
91% of Or colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Reed College (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from Mount Angel Seminary at $20K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Or
Reed College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Or's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $20K in median debt.
Willamette University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Mathematics. Five-year median earnings: $126K.
George Fox University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $23K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Or
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reed College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 2 | Willamette University(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 3 | George Fox University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 4 | Lewis & Clark College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | Pacific University(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 6 | University of Oregon(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | University of Portland(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Western Oregon University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Corban University(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 10 | Bushnell University(private) | Mathematics | $24K | $78K | A (94) |
| 11 | Eastern Oregon University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 12 | Oregon Institute of Technology(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 13 | Oregon State University(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (94) |
| 14 | Portland State University(public) | Computer Science | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 15 | Warner Pacific University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $26K | $95K | A (94) |
| 16 | Linfield University(private) | Mathematics | $24K | $78K | A (94) |
| 17 | Southern Oregon University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $30K | $95K | A (91) |
| 18 | Multnomah University(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $21K | $65K | A (80) |
| 19 | Sumner College(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $37K | $62K | B (74) |
| 20 | Mount Angel Seminary(private) | Philosophy | $20K | $52K | B (69) |
College debt and earnings data for Or is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reed College has the best ROI in Or with a score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $20K in median debt.
Across 22 Or colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $81K.
Reed College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Or has 22 colleges in our database (7 public, 15 private). Of the 22 with reportable ROI, 91% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).