Cost of college in Oregon
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Oregon averages $12,654 a year, or $16,402 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $57,745 and owe about $19,498. The net price pays back in about 4.1 years.
How Oregon compares to the US
Oregon ranks #12 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #19 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #21 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Oregon | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $12,654 | $9,518 | +$3,136 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $33,346 | $23,652 | +$9,694 |
| Net price after aid | $16,402 | $13,788 | +$2,614 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $57,745 | $56,427 | +$1,318 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,498 | $17,856 | +$1,642 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Oregon pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Oregon costs about $65,608 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.1 years from the roughly $15,945-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #21 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Oregon list about $52,546 in tuition and net out to about $30,294 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Oregon?
At a public 4-year college in Oregon, in-state tuition and fees average about $12,654 a year and out-of-state runs about $33,346. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $16,402. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Oregon earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Oregon's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $57,745 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $19,498 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Oregon?
A public 4-year degree in Oregon costs about $65,608 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.1 years from the roughly $15,945-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.