Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Oregon
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bushnell University, Linfield University and University of Portland are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Oregon by graduate earnings. Bushnell University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $102,985, College Scorecard. Oregon Health & Science University, Linfield University and University of Portland award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Oregon: 500, 244 and 219 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 Oregon colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 1,874 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, 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 | Bushnell University Eugene Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $102,985 | 42 | 56% | $22,143 | $28,704 |
| 2 | Linfield University McMinnville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $95,604 | 244 | 70% | $26,243 | $31,000 |
| 3 | University of Portland Portland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $94,291 | 219 | 80% | $33,822 | $28,750 |
| 4 | Oregon Health & Science University Portland Public · Bachelor's degree | $92,371 | 500 | — | — | $32,059 |
| 5 | George Fox University Newberg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,201 | 106 | 72% | $26,564 | $29,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg Public · Associate degree | $88,854 | 61 | 31% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | Sumner College Portland Private for-profit · Associate degree | $85,561 | 102 | 83% | $28,896 | $35,404 |
| 3 | Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay Public · Associate degree | $75,458 | 44 | 40% | — | $19,435 |
| 4 | Rogue Community College Grants Pass Public · Associate degree | $90,235 | 31 | 9% | — | $20,950 |
| 5 | Lane Community College Eugene Public · Associate degree | $89,567 | 97 | 20% | — | $23,165 |
| 6 | Mt Hood Community College Gresham Public · Associate degree | $89,499 | 70 | 24% | — | $30,031 |
| 7 | Linn-Benton Community College Albany Public · Associate degree | $84,912 | 33 | 29% | — | $20,854 |
| 8 | Central Oregon Community College Bend Public · Associate degree | $82,582 | 53 | 25% | — | $22,833 |
| 9 | Chemeketa Community College Salem Public · Associate degree | $79,890 | 32 | 21% | — | $24,018 |
| 10 | Columbia Gorge Community College The Dalles Public · Associate degree | $78,167 | 27 | 29% | — | $22,417 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Oregon
Top 9 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Oregon Health & Science University Portland Public | 500 | $92,371 |
| 2 | Linfield University McMinnville Private not-for-profit | 244 | $95,604 |
| 3 | University of Portland Portland Private not-for-profit | 219 | $94,291 |
| 4 | George Fox University Newberg Private not-for-profit | 106 | $89,201 |
| 5 | Warner Pacific University Portland Private not-for-profit | 47 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bushnell University Eugene Private not-for-profit | 42 | $102,985 |
| 7 | Oregon Coast Community College Newport Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 8 | Klamath Community College Klamath Falls Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 9 | Blue Mountain Community College Pendleton Public | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Oregon colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumner College | Portland | Private for-profit | 102 |
| Lane Community College | Eugene | Public | 97 |
| Mt Hood Community College | Gresham | Public | 70 |
| Umpqua Community College | Roseburg | Public | 61 |
| Central Oregon Community College | Bend | Public | 53 |
| Southwestern Oregon Community College | Coos Bay | Public | 44 |
| Linn-Benton Community College | Albany | Public | 33 |
| Chemeketa Community College | Salem | Public | 32 |
| Portland Community College | Portland | Public | 31 |
| Rogue Community College | Grants Pass | Public | 31 |
| Clackamas Community College | Oregon City | Public | 29 |
| Columbia Gorge Community College | The Dalles | Public | 27 |
| Treasure Valley Community College | Ontario | Public | 19 |
| Tillamook Bay Community College | Tillamook | Public | 13 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Oregon
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Oregon.
Which Oregon colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Oregon Health & Science University (500 graduates a year), Linfield University (244 graduates a year) and University of Portland (219 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Oregon, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 Oregon colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Oregon?+
By graduate earnings, Bushnell University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Oregon, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $102,985, College Scorecard. Linfield University and University of Portland follow. By degrees awarded, Oregon Health & Science University is the largest, with 500 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Oregon has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bushnell University tops the list at $102,985. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Oregon?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Oregon is $123,140 (median $129,010), across about 39,730 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's 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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