Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Linfield University #541 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,530 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Linfield University #682 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting outcomes for students across income levels.
Azimuth ranks Linfield University #541 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in McMinnville, Oregon, Linfield University enrolls roughly 1,621 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 79.7% freshman retention rate and a 70.5% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence and degree completion. Linfield University builds its composite strength on return on investment and affordability. Azimuth ranks Linfield University #116 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,530 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Linfield University in the 94.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution sits in the 21.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a tuition structure and aid strategy that make the institution accessible to families across income levels. Access and mobility represent the lower-ranked pillars in the composite. Linfield University sits in the 19.6 percentile for access and the 54.0 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 30.3% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 30.3% first-generation students, reflecting a student body drawn primarily from families with higher income and educational attainment. For students who enroll, Linfield University's strength in Health fields and its focus on career-aligned education support solid long-term financial outcomes relative to comparable private institutions.
Linfield University's published cost of attendance is $65,935. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $20,059, middle-income families pay around $22,806, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,519. Azimuth ranks Linfield University #1115 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. Linfield University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The aid structure prioritizes demonstrated financial need, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,067; 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 $81,180, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Linfield University is a strong fit for students interested in health fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in OR's Willamette Valley. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $81,180, placing Linfield University in the 86.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $18,530 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls 30.3% of undergraduates as Pell recipients and 30.3% as first-generation students, with a 70.0% Pell graduation rate. Published cost of attendance is $32,519, with median federal debt at graduation of $25,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 85.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Health fields (12% of degrees). Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong regional outcomes.
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 Linfield University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
238 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
13 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
19 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
11 graduates
Marketing
15 graduates
Linfield University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a comprehensive private liberal arts university with deep clinical and applied-health roots. Nursing is the largest program with 238 graduates, followed by Kinesiology, Psychology, General, Business Administration, and Teacher Education.
The institution offers 21 programs, with 0 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold across a total student body of roughly 465 graduates annually. The program-earnings pattern reflects strength in applied health and professional pathways.
Nursing leads with median 4-year earnings of $109,374 from 238 graduates, followed by Accounting at $78,683 and Business Administration at $77,983. Finance and Digital Marketing round out the highest-earning cluster.
The concentration of earnings strength in health-related and clinical-preparation fields aligns with Linfield University's curricular focus and the labor-market demand for credentialed health professionals in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Several of these programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter clinical or professional practice immediately—particularly nursing, health sciences, and allied health fields—where four-year earnings reflect entry-level professional compensation.
Others, such as biology and chemistry, may lead to graduate or professional school for a meaningful share of students, meaning four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory for those cohorts. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Linfield University's dominant health-sciences portfolio aligns with regional and national labor-market trends in healthcare and life sciences.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barry University Similar quality tier (#15319 ranked) | FL | 77% | $55,966 | #15319 | Compare |
Regis University Similar quality tier in West (#15301 ranked) | CO | 86% | $72,105 | #15301 | Compare |
Houston Christian University Similar quality tier (#15341 ranked) | TX | 84% | $55,933 | #15341 | Compare |
Touro University Similar quality tier (#15342 ranked) | NY | 61% | $53,419 | #15342 | Compare |
Baptist Health College Little Rock Similar quality tier (#15279 ranked) | AR | 95% | $62,244 | #15279 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Linfield University's published cost of attendance is $65,935. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $20,059, middle-income families pay around $22,806, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,519.
Azimuth ranks Linfield University #1115 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.
Linfield University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The aid structure prioritizes demonstrated financial need, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,067; 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 $81,180, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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 Linfield University earn median 4-year earnings of $81,180, placing Linfield University in the 86.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,530 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Linfield University in the 94.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Linfield University #116 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Linfield University's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 238 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $109,374, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Kinesiology program graduates 38 students earning $58,347, while Psychology, General with 31 graduates reaches $53,493.
Business Administration and Teacher Education round out the top five, with 19 and 17 graduates respectively earning $77,983 and $52,429. This program-level diversity within the health sciences and related professional fields supports Linfield University's overall earnings profile and positions graduates across multiple career pathways in stable, in-demand sectors.
