Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Oregon
Ranked by graduate earnings
Oregon State University, Southwestern Oregon Community College and Umpqua Community College are the top Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Oregon by graduate earnings. Oregon State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,083, College Scorecard. Southwestern Oregon Community College, Umpqua Community College and Portland State University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees and certificates in Oregon: 192, 186 and 154 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 Oregon colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 6,609 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon State University Corvallis Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,083 | 47 | 70% | — | $25,439 |
| 2 | Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay Public · Associate degree | $27,511 | 192 | 40% | — | $11,000 |
| 3 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg Public · Associate degree | $27,211 | 186 | 31% | — | $10,437 |
| 4 | Blue Mountain Community College Pendleton Public · Associate degree | $25,872 | 153 | 30% | — | $16,009 |
| 5 | Treasure Valley Community College Ontario Public · Associate degree | $24,850 | 103 | 37% | — | $12,000 |
| 6 | Klamath Community College Klamath Falls Public · Associate degree | $24,370 | 101 | 43% | — | $14,644 |
| 7 | Portland State University Portland Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,253 | 154 | 53% | — | $30,250 |
| 8 | Clackamas Community College Oregon City Public · Certificate | $31,280 | 398 | 23% | — | $13,915 |
| 9 | Portland Community College Portland Public · Associate degree | $30,852 | 1,859 | 18% | — | $15,334 |
| 10 | Central Oregon Community College Bend Public · Associate degree | $29,560 | 347 | 25% | — | $16,168 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Oregon
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay Public | 192 | $27,511 |
| 2 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg Public | 186 | $27,211 |
| 3 | Portland State University Portland Public | 154 | $23,253 |
| 4 | Blue Mountain Community College Pendleton Public | 153 | $25,872 |
| 5 | Treasure Valley Community College Ontario Public | 103 | $24,850 |
| 6 | Klamath Community College Klamath Falls Public | 101 | $24,370 |
| 7 | Oregon State University Corvallis Public | 47 | $38,083 |
| 8 | Oregon Coast Community College Newport Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 9 | Corban University Salem Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Oregon Eugene Public | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 19 Oregon colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Community College | Portland | Public | 1,859 |
| Lane Community College | Eugene | Public | 915 |
| Chemeketa Community College | Salem | Public | 783 |
| Mt Hood Community College | Gresham | Public | 492 |
| Clackamas Community College | Oregon City | Public | 398 |
| Central Oregon Community College | Bend | Public | 347 |
| Rogue Community College | Grants Pass | Public | 310 |
| Linn-Benton Community College | Albany | Public | 262 |
| Tillamook Bay Community College | Tillamook | Public | 102 |
| Columbia Gorge Community College | The Dalles | Public | 80 |
| Clatsop Community College | Astoria | Public | 48 |
| Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies | Portland | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Eastern Oregon University | La Grande | Public | 2 |
| University of Portland | Portland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Reed College | Portland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lewis & Clark College | Portland | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Bushnell University | Eugene | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Willamette University | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Western Oregon University | Monmouth | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Oregon
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Oregon.
Which Oregon colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Southwestern Oregon Community College (192 graduates a year), Umpqua Community College (186 graduates a year) and Portland State University (154 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees and certificates in Oregon, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 Oregon colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Oregon?+
By graduate earnings, Oregon State University leads among Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Oregon, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,083, College Scorecard. Southwestern Oregon Community College and Umpqua Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Southwestern Oregon Community College is the largest, with 192 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Oregon has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Oregon State University tops the list at $38,083. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Oregon?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Oregon is $87,890 (median $72,440), across about 3,840 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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