Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Lewis & Clark College #1378 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,092 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lewis & Clark College in the 16.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Lewis & Clark College #1163 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lewis & Clark College #1378 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Portland, Oregon, Lewis & Clark College enrolls roughly 2,120 undergraduates. Retention is 88.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 75.4%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Lewis & Clark College delivers meaningful earnings outcomes for its graduates. Graduates earn about $12,092 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lewis & Clark College in the 16.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Lewis & Clark College #1163 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Social Sciences, a field that typically supports stable career pathways and moderate-to-strong long-term earnings growth. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. Lewis & Clark College sits in the 21.2 percentile for access and the 12.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a selective private institution, Lewis & Clark College enrolls 20.3% Pell-eligible students and 17.3% first-generation undergraduates. For families seeking a smaller, liberal-arts-focused college with solid long-term financial outcomes and a Pacific Northwest location, Lewis & Clark College offers a coherent value proposition anchored in return on investment and educational quality.
Lewis & Clark College's published cost of attendance is $79,987. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,962, middle-income families pay around $22,712, and higher-income families pay approximately $44,990. Azimuth ranks Lewis & Clark College #1253 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Lewis & Clark's aid structure is need-based, with demonstrated financial need met through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to access need-based aid; merit scholarships are also available and may reduce net price further for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,625; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,262, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Lewis & Clark College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in Portland, OR. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $57,262, placing Lewis & Clark College in the 31.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $12,092 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lewis & Clark College in the 16.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 20.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.3% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Lewis & Clark College in the 86.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 78.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors liberal arts and interdisciplinary fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Lewis & Clark College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Economics
14 graduates
International Relations and National Security Studies
39 graduates
Psychology, General
66 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
22 graduates
Sociology and Anthropology
33 graduates
Lewis & Clark College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity and Portland location. Psychology, General is the largest program with 66 graduates, followed by Biology, General, International Relations and National Security Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, and Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
The institution's program portfolio spans 20 distinct fields, with 0 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold across roughly 441 students annually. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and professional fields.
International Relations and National Security Studies leads with median earnings of $57,783 four years after enrollment, followed by Psychology, General at $55,288, Communication and Media Studies at $53,026, Sociology and Anthropology at $52,622, and Biology, General at $49,503. This earnings pattern reflects the institution's balance between humanities-grounded liberal arts education and professional preparation in fields where graduates enter the workforce directly.
Several of Lewis & Clark College's programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates move into national labor markets in business, technology, and professional services. Others, particularly within Social Sciences, are grad-school-dependent fields where four-year earnings undercount the trajectory of graduates who continue to graduate or professional study.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's program families align with labor-market demand and wage growth in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delaware Valley University Similar quality tier (#36157 ranked) | PA | 93% | $55,838 | #36157 | Compare |
Arizona Christian University Similar quality tier (#36154 ranked) | AZ | 71% | $51,612 | #36154 | Compare |
Covenant College Similar quality tier (#36152 ranked) | GA | 87% | $50,412 | #36152 | Compare |
Thiel College Similar quality tier (#36150 ranked) | PA | 72% | $49,714 | #36150 | Compare |
Saint Norbert College Similar quality tier (#36163 ranked) | WI | 86% | $58,363 | #36163 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Lewis & Clark College's published cost of attendance is $79,987. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,962, middle-income families pay around $22,712, and higher-income families pay approximately $44,990.
Azimuth ranks Lewis & Clark College #1253 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Lewis & Clark's aid structure is need-based, with demonstrated financial need met through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to access need-based aid; merit scholarships are also available and may reduce net price further for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,625; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,262, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Lewis & Clark College earn median 4-year earnings of $57,262, placing Lewis & Clark College in the 31.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,092 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lewis & Clark College in the 16.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lewis & Clark College #1163 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Lewis & Clark College's strength in social sciences and liberal arts fields.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 66 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $55,288, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 43 students earning $49,503, while International Relations and National Security Studies with 39 graduates reaches $57,783.
Sociology and Anthropology and Natural Resources Conservation and Research round out the institution's core offerings, each contributing to a diversified program portfolio anchored in Social Sciences. The breadth of these fields — spanning humanities, social sciences, and professional preparation — supports graduates into varied career pathways with earnings that reflect both early-career positioning and long-term professional growth.
