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2023 Best Online Colleges in Oregon

By OnlineU Staff Writers | Updated 7/10/2023

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Enrolling in an online college in Oregon may provide a convenient way to work toward a bachelor's degree. Earning an online degree often leads to higher-paying jobs and less chance of unemployment. This can also be achieved by starting at an Oregon community college before transferring to a university. Oregon offers online bachelor's degrees across popular areas of study, such as business, health professions, psychology, and the social sciences. 

View our methodology for more details about our list, or learn about OnlineU. Looking for online programs in states beyond Oregon? Review our list of online colleges by state

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2023 Best Online Colleges in Oregon

RankSchool Salary Score Online Enrollment
# 1 #1 Oregon Institute of Technology 74 661
# 2 #2 Oregon State University 53 10,888
# 3 #3 Portland State University 50 2,812
# 4 #4 Eastern Oregon University 50 1,624
# 5 #5 Western Oregon University 47 780
# 6 #6 Southern Oregon University 40 975
# 7 #7 American College of Healthcare Sciences N/A 1,123
# 8 #8 University of Western States N/A 646
# 9 #9 Bushnell University N/A 165
# 10 #10 Western Seminary N/A 356

#1 Oregon Institute of Technology

  • Salary Score: 74
  • Online Enrollment: 661
  • Locations: Klamath Falls
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

The public Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) is a public college that provides a range of online bachelor's degrees. The institute's allied health programs are particularly popular, such as its online Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics degree and its Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene for current hygienists who have an associate degree. Oregon Tech accepts 95% of candidates for its bachelor's degrees, and half of all bachelor's candidates graduate with their degrees.

This school hosts online classes on the Canvas digital learning platform. Only 13% of Oregon Tech students at the bachelor level take fully online degree programs, but another 18% are enrolled in some distance education. In contrast, 32% of graduate students are enrolled in fully online programs.

#2 Oregon State University

  • Salary Score: 53
  • Online Enrollment: 10,888
  • Locations: Corvallis
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

Oregon State University (OSU), a public school, has dozens of online bachelor's degrees on offer. The university's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is one of its most popular options, and a fully online version is available alongside the campus program. Other programs with high enrollment include the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences degrees. The school has an 82% acceptance rate for bachelor's programs, along with a graduation rate of 65%.

OSU's online learners sign in to the Canvas learning management system (LMS) to work on courses. Most OSU students are full-time learners, but 31% take a part-time course schedule. Similarly, 31% of students are online-only enrollees.

#3 Portland State University

  • Salary Score: 50
  • Online Enrollment: 2,812
  • Locations: Portland
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

Portland State University (PSU) is a public institution that offers a variety of online bachelor's degree programs. These include distance-learning versions of some of PSU's most popular programs, such as bachelor's degrees in public health with five optional concentrations and either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Social Science. The university accepts 95% of applicants for bachelor's degree programs, and 51% of admitted students graduate with degrees.

PSU delivers online courses using the Canvas LMS. The school is a federally designated Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, with 10% of its student body coming from Asian backgrounds. About one quarter of students take a part-time course schedule.

#4 Eastern Oregon University

  • Salary Score: 50
  • Online Enrollment: 1,624
  • Locations: La Grande
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is a public school featuring more than two dozen fully online bachelor's degrees. Popular fields of study include early childhood education, physical education, and interdisciplinary studies, but the programs with the highest enrollment include the school's Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. EOU's bachelor's acceptance rate is 94%, and its bachelor's graduation rate is 40%.

The university uses Canvas as its LMS to host online lectures, course materials, and discussion forums. About one-third of EOU students enroll on a part-time basis, but more than half of all enrollees (56%) take online courses exclusively.

#5 Western Oregon University

  • Salary Score: 47
  • Online Enrollment: 780
  • Locations: Monmouth
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

Western Oregon University (WOU) is a public university with online degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Popular online master’s degrees at WOU, for example, include criminal justice, education, and educational technology. At a minimum, online master’s degrees can be 45-54 credit hours, so prospective students can expect to spend two years finishing one of these programs. The acceptance rate at WOU is 92%, with a graduation rate of 50%.

At WOU, online students complete courses delivered in asynchronous and synchronous formats on Canvas. The student-to-faculty ratio at WOU is 12:1. Online students may be eligible for financial aid, such as scholarships, loans, grants, and textbook rental programs. Online student support at WOU includes tutoring, disability services, an online library, a writing center, financial aid assistance, career services, a veteran’s resource center, and advising. WOU is approved by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to ensure online students receive high quality virtual degree programs.

#6 Southern Oregon University

  • Salary Score: 40
  • Online Enrollment: 975
  • Locations: Ashland
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

Southern Oregon University (SOU), a public university, offers a few online bachelor's degrees to choose from. Two of the most popular programs are in business administration and psychology. Students can study these majors as either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences programs, depending on which general education path they want to take. The university accepts 90% of bachelor's applicants, and 47% of its bachelor's degree students graduate.

SOU's online students sign in to the Moodle LMS to interact with classmates and professors, submit assignments, and watch recorded lectures. The university was founded in affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been publicly funded for nearly 150 years now.

#7 American College of Healthcare Sciences

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 1,123
  • Locations: Portland
  • Accreditation: DEAC

At the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) — a private, for-profit institution — future students can pursue online associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. Some examples of online degrees at ACHS include herbal medicine, integrative health, and aromatherapy. Online degrees at ACHS are the usual amount of credit hours, depending on the degree level. ACHS’s acceptance rate is 62%, with a 38% graduation rate.

ACHS uses the learning management system Canvas to facilitate online learning. The student-to-faculty ratio at this institution is 24:1. ACHS may accept or offer financial aid for online students, like scholarships, payment plans, loans, grants, and military funding. Online student resources at ACHS include a career center, virtual healthcare, counseling, military student services, disability services, tech support, an online library, advising, and financial aid assistance. Online students at ACHS have unlimited one-on-one access to their instructors six days per week and a plethora of virtual health and wellness services.

#8 University of Western States

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 646
  • Locations: Portland
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

The University of Western States (UWS) is a private, non-profit university offering online degrees at the master’s and doctorate levels. Some of the online doctoral programs at UWS include human nutrition and functional medicine, clinical nutrition, and sports and performance psychology. These online graduate programs can be 65 quarter credit hours or more and take 2-3 years to complete with a full schedule of classes. College Scorecard, a federal database, does not provide data on this institution's acceptance and graduation rates.

At UWS, online students use Canvas to complete courses remotely. Potential financial aid opportunities for online students include scholarships, veterans benefits, loans, reimbursement, and payment plans. Online students can access accessibility services, tutoring, an online library, and academic coaching. At UWS, students can expect to improve their critical thinking skills, get interactive learning experiences, and have the flexibility and accessibility to complete their online degrees.

#9 Bushnell University

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 165
  • Locations: Eugene
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

Bushnell University (BU) is a private, nonprofit, Christian university that offers online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Popular online bachelor’s degrees at BU include business administration, forensic psychology, and RN to BSN. Online bachelor’s degrees are at least 124 credit hours, which can take full-time students four years to complete. To give online students flexibility in finishing their degrees, BU offers eight-week courses and start dates six times a year. The acceptance rate at BU is 68%, with a 56% graduation rate.

At BU, online students complete courses available on the learning management systems BeaconLearning and Moodle. BU’s student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1. Online students may be eligible for financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. Online students at BU can access tech support, career development, accessibility services, tutoring, and advising. Importantly, although the university is affiliated with the Christian Church, it supports LGBT students and provides resources to them, such as crisis hotlines.

#10 Western Seminary

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 356
  • Locations: Portland
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

Western Seminary (Western Global) is a private, interdenominational Evangelical Christian seminary with online master’s degrees. Some of these graduate degrees offered at Western Global include divinity, ministry and leadership, and applied biblical leadership. These online degrees at this institution can range between 48-82 credit hours, which can take two years or more to finish these programs.

Western Global facilitates asynchronous online learning on its learning management system. The seminary offers financial aid like scholarships, grants, and loans and accepts payment plans. Online student resources at Western Global include disability services, a writing center, and an online library. Western Global offers fully online degrees emphasizing gospel centrality and biblical theology, high quality teaching faculty, and the ability to interact with other online students in real time.

#11 Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 134
  • Locations: McMinnville
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

At Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education — a private, nonprofit institution — prospective students can pursue online degrees at the bachelor’s level. Some of the online bachelor’s degrees include accounting, international business, and marketing. At a minimum, these online bachelor’s degrees are 125 credit hours, so future students can expect to spend four years finishing these degrees. Linfield’s graduation rate is 72%.

Linfield’s online students complete courses delivered asynchronously and synchronously on Blackboard. Linfield’s student-to-faculty ratio is 5:1. Potential financial aid opportunities for online students include scholarships, grants, and loans. Online student services include veteran’s services, a bookstore, an online library, academic advising, tutoring, and financial aid assistance. Aside from online degrees, Linfield offers certificates, minors, and professional development programs.

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Higher Education in Oregon

Oregon contains four dozen colleges that grant associate, bachelor's, or graduate degrees. This number includes 25 public institutions, most of which are community colleges in Oregon. The public Oregon State University is by far the largest higher education institution in the state.

You can enroll in on-campus or online college in Oregon. Some colleges and universities offer two versions of the same program or a hybrid option that combines elements of each.

We have lists of online MSW programs in Oregon and online nursing programs in Oregon if you're interested in a career in those fields.

Online Colleges in Oregon

Online learning has been increasing in popularity for years because of the flexibility it can bring to students' busy lives. More than one-quarter of Oregon's bachelor's students were enrolled in 100% online programs during the 2020-2021 school year, showing that Oregon is no exception to the online trend.

Online education is flexible because most programs have classes with no set meeting times. Students instead log in to a learning management system to watch recorded lectures, complete interactive lessons, and talk to classmates and faculty through discussion forums and messaging apps. Distance learning may help enrollees balance school with work, family, and other responsibilities because they can study on their own schedule.

Oregon's online colleges offer programs at all levels of education. The table below details some of the main differences between these levels:

Degree Program Common Admissions Requirements Estimated Time to Completion
Certificate
  • Official high school or GED transcripts
6-12 months
Associate degree
  • Official high school or GED transcripts 
  • SAT or ACT scores
2 years
Bachelor's degree
  • Official high school transcripts or GED (GPA of 2.5 or higher)
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • Letter of recommendation 
  • Personal statement or essay
4 years
Master's degree
  • Official bachelor's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)
2-3 years
Doctoral degree
  • Official bachelor's or master's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0-3.25 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation from professors
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)
7.5 years (on average, but could be 3-10 years)

Degree Program: Certificate

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official high school or GED transcripts

Estimated Time to Completion: 6-12 months

Degree Program: Associate degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official high school or GED transcripts 
  • SAT or ACT scores

Estimated Time to Completion: 2 years

Degree Program: Bachelor's degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official high school transcripts or GED (GPA of 2.5 or higher)
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • Letter of recommendation 
  • Personal statement or essay

Estimated Time to Completion: 4 years

Degree Program: Master's degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official bachelor's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)

Estimated Time to Completion: 2-3 years

Degree Program: Doctoral degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official bachelor's or master's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0-3.25 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation from professors
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)

Estimated Time to Completion: 7.5 years (on average, but could be 3-10 years)

Unsure where and what you want to study? You can review our lists of online colleges by state and the best online colleges by degree level for ideas.

FAQs About Online Colleges in Oregon

What Is the Oregon College Savings Plan?


The Oregon College Savings Plan is a state-run program intended to help students save money for education after high school. Families or individuals can open savings accounts with money they can use at a later date to pay for tuition, school fees, and eligible supplies. It's important to note that you don't need to be an Oregon citizen to participate, nor do you need to attend an Oregon institution.

What Are the State Colleges in Oregon?


Oregon's 25 public state colleges include 17 community colleges with certificate and associate degree programs. Portland State University is the only one of the state's four-year public schools located in Portland. The rest are in smaller towns.

Are There Online Colleges in Oregon?


Several Oregon colleges offer fully online degree programs. But there is only one completely online Oregon college: the American College of Healthcare Sciences.

What Are the Best Colleges in Oregon?


On this page, we rank the best Oregon colleges by their alumni career and salary outcomes. But you might also consider factors beyond salaries for graduates, such as a school's disability accommodations or the financial aid package it offers you. Consult our Guide to Applying to Online College or University for more factors to think about as you research degree programs. 

Higher Education in Oregon

Oregon contains four dozen colleges that grant associate, bachelor's, or graduate degrees. This number includes 25 public institutions, most of which are community colleges in Oregon. The public Oregon State University is by far the largest higher education institution in the state.

You can enroll in on-campus or online college in Oregon. Some colleges and universities offer two versions of the same program or a hybrid option that combines elements of each.

We have lists of online MSW programs in Oregon and online nursing programs in Oregon if you're interested in a career in those fields.

Online Colleges in Oregon

Online learning has been increasing in popularity for years because of the flexibility it can bring to students' busy lives. More than one-quarter of Oregon's bachelor's students were enrolled in 100% online programs during the 2020-2021 school year, showing that Oregon is no exception to the online trend.

Online education is flexible because most programs have classes with no set meeting times. Students instead log in to a learning management system to watch recorded lectures, complete interactive lessons, and talk to classmates and faculty through discussion forums and messaging apps. Distance learning may help enrollees balance school with work, family, and other responsibilities because they can study on their own schedule.

Oregon's online colleges offer programs at all levels of education. The table below details some of the main differences between these levels:

Degree Program Common Admissions Requirements Estimated Time to Completion
Certificate
  • Official high school or GED transcripts
6-12 months
Associate degree
  • Official high school or GED transcripts 
  • SAT or ACT scores
2 years
Bachelor's degree
  • Official high school transcripts or GED (GPA of 2.5 or higher)
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • Letter of recommendation 
  • Personal statement or essay
4 years
Master's degree
  • Official bachelor's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)
2-3 years
Doctoral degree
  • Official bachelor's or master's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0-3.25 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation from professors
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)
7.5 years (on average, but could be 3-10 years)

Degree Program: Certificate

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official high school or GED transcripts

Estimated Time to Completion: 6-12 months

Degree Program: Associate degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official high school or GED transcripts 
  • SAT or ACT scores

Estimated Time to Completion: 2 years

Degree Program: Bachelor's degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official high school transcripts or GED (GPA of 2.5 or higher)
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • Letter of recommendation 
  • Personal statement or essay

Estimated Time to Completion: 4 years

Degree Program: Master's degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official bachelor's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)

Estimated Time to Completion: 2-3 years

Degree Program: Doctoral degree

Common Adminssions Requirements

  • Official bachelor's or master's degree transcripts (GPA of 3.0-3.25 or higher)
  • Two letters of recommendation from professors
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Official entrance exam scores (GRE or GMAT)

Estimated Time to Completion: 7.5 years (on average, but could be 3-10 years)

Unsure where and what you want to study? You can review our lists of online colleges by state and the best online colleges by degree level for ideas.

FAQs About Online Colleges in Oregon

What Is the Oregon College Savings Plan?


The Oregon College Savings Plan is a state-run program intended to help students save money for education after high school. Families or individuals can open savings accounts with money they can use at a later date to pay for tuition, school fees, and eligible supplies. It's important to note that you don't need to be an Oregon citizen to participate, nor do you need to attend an Oregon institution.

What Are the State Colleges in Oregon?


Oregon's 25 public state colleges include 17 community colleges with certificate and associate degree programs. Portland State University is the only one of the state's four-year public schools located in Portland. The rest are in smaller towns.

Are There Online Colleges in Oregon?


Several Oregon colleges offer fully online degree programs. But there is only one completely online Oregon college: the American College of Healthcare Sciences.

What Are the Best Colleges in Oregon?


On this page, we rank the best Oregon colleges by their alumni career and salary outcomes. But you might also consider factors beyond salaries for graduates, such as a school's disability accommodations or the financial aid package it offers you. Consult our Guide to Applying to Online College or University for more factors to think about as you research degree programs. 

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