2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Oregon
Looking for the best-value Nursing degree programs in Oregon? This list ranks 73 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 18 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in Oregon
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Columbia Gorge Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Nursing degree schools in Oregon. Columbia Gorge Community College is a public school based in The Dalles, OR. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,940, while out-of-state students pay about $10,260. Columbia Gorge Community College Nursing students take on a median of $17,416 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Columbia Gorge Community College
Out of the 18 schools in Oregon in this year's value ranking, Oregon Coast Community College landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Newport, OR. Students from in state pay about $5,544 in tuition and fees. Read the full report on Oregon Coast Community College
Out of the 18 schools in Oregon in this year's value ranking, Umpqua Community College landed the #3 spot. Based in Roseburg, OR, Umpqua Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,104. Umpqua Community College Nursing students take on a median of $13,058 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,676 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,058 median debt. Read the full report on Umpqua Community College
Out of the 18 schools in Oregon in this year's value ranking, Lane Community College landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Eugene, OR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,202, while out-of-state students pay about $13,078. Lane Community College Nursing students take on a median of $18,373 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,075. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Lane Community College report
A rank of #5 makes Rogue Community College one of the best values in Oregon. Rogue Community College is a public school based in Grants Pass, OR. In-state tuition and fees average $5,256, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Typical Nursing student debt is $15,248. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,845 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,248 median debt. Read more about Rogue Community College
Chemeketa Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Salem, OR, Chemeketa Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,345, with out-of-state students paying around $14,040. Graduates carry a median of $15,755 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,968. Set against $15,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Chemeketa Community College report
Mt Hood Community College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Based in Gresham, OR, Mt Hood Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,247 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,819 for out-of-state students. Mt Hood Community College Nursing students take on a median of $18,767 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,125 ten years after entry. Set against $18,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Mt Hood Community College
Clackamas Community College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Oregon City, OR. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,265. The median Nursing program debt is $13,915. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,886. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Clackamas Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College landed the #9 spot for value in Oregon this year. This public school is set in Coos Bay, OR. In-state tuition and fees average $7,192. Students borrow a median of $13,609 to complete their Nursing program here. Median earnings reach $38,349 ten years out. Set against $13,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Southwestern Oregon Community College
Portland Community College placed #10 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. Located in Portland, OR, Portland Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $10,440. Graduates carry a median of $20,648 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,592 ten years after entry. Set against $20,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Portland Community College
Linn Benton Community College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Based in Albany, OR, Linn Benton Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,317 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,736. Graduates carry a median of $17,959 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,363. Set against $17,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Linn Benton Community College report
Central Oregon Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Bend, OR, Central Oregon Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,683, while out-of-state students pay about $15,246. Central Oregon Community College Nursing students take on a median of $16,250 in debt. Median earnings reach $38,940 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,250 median debt. Read more about Central Oregon Community College
Blue Mountain Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Located in Pendleton, OR, Blue Mountain Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,076, compared with $9,754 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $20,615. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,375. Set against $20,615 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Blue Mountain Community College report
Warner Pacific College placed #15 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. Located in Portland, OR, Warner Pacific College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,220 in tuition and fees. Typical Nursing student debt is $41,254. Median earnings reach $55,204 ten years out. Set against $41,254 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Warner Pacific College admits about 71% of applicants. Read more about Warner Pacific College
Northwest Christian University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Eugene, OR, Northwest Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,800. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete their Nursing program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,623. Set against $25,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 67% of those who apply are admitted. More on Northwest Christian University
University Of Portland came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. University Of Portland is a private not-for-profit school based in Portland, OR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. University Of Portland Nursing students take on a median of $23,169 in debt. Median earnings reach $82,804 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,169 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Portland
George Fox University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Newberg, OR. Students from in state pay about $41,320 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $25,324 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Fox University has an acceptance rate of 94%. More on George Fox University
Northwest College Tualatin landed the #18 spot for value in Oregon this year. More on Northwest College Tualatin
Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program placed #19 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. See the full Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program profile
Treasure Valley Community College placed #20 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. More on Treasure Valley Community College
Pacific University landed the #21 spot for value in Oregon this year. Get the full Pacific University report
Summit Salon Academy Portland ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read the full report on Summit Salon Academy Portland
American College Of Healthcare Sciences placed #23 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. Read more about American College Of Healthcare Sciences
Northwest College Medford came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northwest College Medford profile
Northwest College Eugene landed the #25 spot for value in Oregon this year. Read more about Northwest College Eugene
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in Oregon
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
New Hope Christian College landed the #26 spot for value in Oregon this year. More on New Hope Christian College
Johnny Matthews Hairdressing Training School came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Johnny Matthews Hairdressing Training School
Sage School Of Massage And Esthetics offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Sage School Of Massage And Esthetics
Oregon State University Cascades Campus landed the #29 spot for value in Oregon this year. Read the full report on Oregon State University Cascades Campus
Christian Culinary Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Christian Culinary Academy profile
Oregon State University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. See the full Oregon State University profile
Portland Actors Conservatory landed the #32 spot for value in Oregon this year. Get the full Portland Actors Conservatory report
Aveda Institute Portland came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Aveda Institute Portland
Premiere Aesthetics Institute ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read more about Premiere Aesthetics Institute
Eastern Oregon University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read more about Eastern Oregon University
Phagans Beauty College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Phagans Beauty College
Western Seminary
Western Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Western Seminary
Klamath Community College landed the #38 spot for value in Oregon this year. Read the full report on Klamath Community College
Mount Angel Seminary placed #39 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. See the full Mount Angel Seminary profile
Pacific Northwest College Of Art landed the #40 spot for value in Oregon this year. Read more about Pacific Northwest College Of Art
Sumner College
Sumner College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. See the full Sumner College profile
Oregon College Of Oriental Medicine offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Oregon College Of Oriental Medicine report
Reed College
Reed College placed #43 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. More on Reed College
Willamette University came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Willamette University report
Carrington College Portland placed #45 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. Read more about Carrington College Portland
Institute Of Technology Salem landed the #46 spot for value in Oregon this year. Read more about Institute Of Technology Salem
Phagans School Of Beauty placed #47 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. Read the full report on Phagans School Of Beauty
Tillamook Bay Community College landed the #48 spot for value in Oregon this year. See the full Tillamook Bay Community College profile
Southern Oregon University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southern Oregon University report
Multnomah University placed #50 among the best-value Nursing schools in Oregon. Read the full report on Multnomah University
More Nursing Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 18 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 73 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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