2023 Best Nursing Schools in Oregon
There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in Oregon to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 18 schools in Oregon to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in Oregon
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bushnell University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Oregon list. Bushnell University is located in Eugene, Oregon and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 236 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,086 in student loans.After graduating from Bushnell University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $57,591 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Portland. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Oregon list. University of Portland is a small private not-for-profit school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 1,342 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $35,271 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $725 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, University of Portland graduates make an average of $49,310 annually.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Columbia Gorge Community College is a great place for nursing students. Located in The Dalles, Oregon, the small public school awarded 184 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $19,352 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Columbia Gorge Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $77,917 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at George Fox University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Oregon. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Newberg, Oregon, and it awarded 1,312 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from GFU accumulate an average of $45,405 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $554. During the early years of their career, GFU graduates make an average of $47,419 annually.
Oregon Coast Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Oregon Coast Community College is a very small public school located in Newport, Oregon that handed out 105 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Oregon Coast Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,577 during the early years of their career.
Warner Pacific University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Warner Pacific is located in Portland, Oregon and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 130 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,285 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Warner Pacific graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,424 during the early year of their career.
Umpqua Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Roseburg, Oregon, the small public school handed out 567 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,820 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Umpqua Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,810 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #9, Southwestern Oregon Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Coos Bay, Oregon, the small public school handed out 439 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,728 in student loans. During the early years of their career, SWOCC graduates make an average of $39,283 annually.
With a ranking of #10, Chemeketa Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Salem, Oregon, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,673 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,427 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Chemeketa Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,860 during the early year of their career.
Lane Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,833 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,511 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Lane Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,649 during the early years of their career.
Clackamas Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Clackamas Community College is a small public school situated in Oregon City, Oregon. It awarded 860 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,216 in student loans.After graduating from Clackamas Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,312 during the early years of their career.
Central Oregon Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. COCC is a small public school situated in Bend, Oregon. It awarded 818 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,220 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, COCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,151 during the early year of their career.
Linn-Benton Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. LBCC is located in Albany, Oregon and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 859 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,061 in student loans. During the early years of their career, LBCC graduates make an average of $39,509 annually.
With a ranking of #15, Rogue Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Rogue Community College is a small public school located in Grants Pass, Oregon that handed out 863 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,424 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Rogue Community College graduates make an average of $35,257 annually.
Blue Mountain Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Oregon ranking. Located in Pendleton, Oregon, the small public school awarded 294 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $19,611 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, BMCC graduates make an average of $45,315 annually.
Mt. Hood Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Gresham, Oregon, and it awarded 1,754 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,202 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, MHCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,287 during the early year of their career.
Portland Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Portland, Oregon, the fairly large public school awarded 4,737 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Portland Community College accumulate an average of $17,461 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Portland Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,075 during the early years of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 18 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.