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# Hidden Gem Colleges in Oregon (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

This page lists 7 colleges in Oregon. This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out.

The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. [Oregon State University](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and reports $71,799 in median earnings for its graduates four years after completing. The group includes 5 public and 2 private nonprofit schools.

Public institutions account for 71% of the entries. [Portland State University](/school/portland-state-university/majors/) has the lowest average net price at $9,552. University of Portland graduates 80% of its students within six years, the highest six-year completion rate on the page.

## The ranked list

7 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $71,799 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
|  | [Oregon State University](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and holds an [Azimuth composite rank of 126th](/school/oregon-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 2 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $62,060 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
|  | [Portland State University](/school/portland-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $62,060](/school/portland-state-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,552. |
| 3 | Oregon Institute of Technology · Klamath Falls, OR | $87,138 | $15,706 | $9,085 | 95.0% |
|  | [Oregon Institute of Technology](/school/oregon-institute-of-technology/majors/) [admits 95% of applicants](/school/oregon-institute-of-technology/admissions/) and its graduates across all fields earn a median of $87,138 four years after completing. |
| 4 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $62,174 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
|  | [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 72%](/school/university-of-oregon/outcomes/) and an average net price of $15,909 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 5 | Linfield University · Mcminnville, OR | $81,180 | $26,536 | $20,059 | 85.2% |
|  | [Linfield University](/school/linfield-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Mcminnville, reports [median earnings of $81,180](/school/linfield-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | Western Oregon University · Monmouth, OR | $54,346 | $17,237 | $15,575 | 98.1% |
|  | Western Oregon University ranks 6th on this list and admits 98% of applicants, with a six-year completion rate of 47%. |
| 7 | University of Portland · Portland, OR | $80,459 | $28,210 | $20,070 | 89.2% |
|  | University of Portland reports an average net price of $28,210 and a six-year completion rate of 80%. |

## How this list is ordered

This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out. The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on [Azimuth's methodology page](/methodology/#hidden-gem). The earnings figures cited below are the median earnings of each institution's federally aided completers across all fields, measured four years after completing, among those who were working and not enrolled. The list does not adjust for cost or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. 5 of the 7 schools are public and 2 are private.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in Oregon](/rankings/best-colleges-in-oregon/)
-   [Best Colleges for Social Mobility in Oregon](/rankings/best-colleges-for-social-mobility-in-oregon/)