University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon · Public · 88.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Oregon is Oregon's flagship public research university, enrolling approximately 20,497 students in Eugene. Its ROI score of 68 places it in the Fair Value tier - a nuanced result reflecting strong individual programs alongside broad liberal arts majors where earnings lag debt. In-state tuition is $16,137, though out-of-state students pay $44,598 - a gap that dramatically reshapes ROI calculations. The average net price of $22,182 suggests many students access financial aid. The payback period of 8.7 years is acceptable for in-state students but strains under out-of-state costs. The completion rate of 71.7% is solid. Median debt of $20,139 is controlled for a research university. Pell Grant recipients make up 21.4% of the student body. The University of Oregon produces strong outcomes in technical, business, and science fields; outcomes in arts, humanities, and several social science programs are weaker, and student program selection significantly determines individual ROI.
University of Oregon
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,137/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,598/yr |
| Average net price | $22,182/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $88,728 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,324 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,139 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $214 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 20,497 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,137/year ($44,598/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $22,182/year, or roughly $88,728 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,909/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,021/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,139, which works out to about $214 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,800) and comes to 0.51, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,909 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,760 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,364 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,704 |
| $110,001+ | $31,021 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Oregon residents with family incomes below $30,000 pay an average net price of $15,909 per year. Students targeting computer science, chemistry, or accounting find strong ROI at this cost. Humanities and arts students at this income level carry meaningful financial risk given the program-level earnings data.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income Oregon families ($30,001 - $75,000) face net prices of $15,760 - $18,364. Program choice matters enormously: a business or CS degree at $17,000 per year is very different from a film or fine arts degree at the same cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001 and above) pay $24,704 - $31,021.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Oregon with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $83,543 | C+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $73,410 | C+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $62,255 | - |
| Social Sciences, General | $57,532 | C |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $56,681 | D |
| International Relations | $62,408 | C |
| Journalism | $55,615 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,958 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $49,770 | C |
| Economics | $75,695 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Science earns a B grade with year-one earnings of $70,055 and four-year earnings of $100,540. Median debt of $24,764 and a ratio of 0.353 are well-controlled. With 74 graduates, Oregon's CS program places students into Pacific Northwest tech employers. This is the clearest high-ROI pathway at the university.
Chemistry
Chemistry earns an A grade with four-year earnings of $81,984 and median debt of $19,834 (ratio 0.242). The 23 graduates likely pursue graduate school or pharmaceutical and biotech careers. The low debt relative to long-term earnings makes chemistry one of Oregon's most financially efficient programs.
Accounting
Accounting (65 graduates) earns a B grade with year-one earnings of $58,449 and four-year earnings of $85,438. Median debt of $20,500 and a ratio of 0.351 are favorable. Oregon's Lundquist business school provides strong regional employer relationships, and accounting graduates show clear earnings progression.
Business Administration and Management
Business is the largest program with 570 graduates. Year-one earnings of $46,897 and four-year earnings of $83,543 show substantial growth. Median debt of $21,500 and a ratio of 0.458 earn a C+ grade. The four-year trajectory is among UO's strongest, suggesting business graduates develop meaningfully after initial placement.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video earns an F grade with year-one earnings of $20,041 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.222. Median debt of $24,500 against $20,041 in first-year earnings creates immediate repayment hardship. With 85 graduates annually, this is a meaningful-scale program. Prospective film students must weigh career aspirations against the concrete financial data - or plan for graduate school to defer repayment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Oregon’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 88.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-30 |
| Enrollment | 20,497 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,404 |
Oregon admits 88.3% of applicants. SAT math scores range from 550 to 670, and SAT reading from 580 to 690; ACT composites fall between 23 and 30. The university is broadly accessible and functionally non-selective for most applicants, making program selection and net price - not admission odds - the primary enrollment decision variable.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oregon (this school) | 68 | $22,182 | $61,324 |
| Oregon Institute of Technology | 83 | $15,706 | $72,273 |
| Montclair State University | 71 | $15,566 | $61,415 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | 69 | $21,279 | $60,543 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 68 | $17,747 | $56,887 |
| Eastern Oregon University | 43 | $17,148 | $50,112 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Oregon side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
The University of Oregon is best suited for Oregon residents who access in-state tuition and are pursuing computer science, chemistry, accounting, business, or architecture. Out-of-state students should focus exclusively on high-earning programs to justify the $44,598 tuition. Students interested in fine arts, film, theater, or design should carefully review the Scorecard earnings data for those specific majors before committing to UO's premium cost.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Oregon is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,182 a year after aid ($88,728 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,324 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 71.7% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.7% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $20,139 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Oregon: Common Questions
Is University of Oregon worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Oregon is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,182 a year after aid ($88,728 over four years) against $61,324 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Oregon cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,182 a year, or roughly $88,728 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Oregon graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,324 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,524 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Oregon?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.7 years for University of Oregon. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Oregon graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,139, against average earnings of $39,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Oregon?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.