Western Oregon University
Monmouth, Oregon · Public · 98.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Western Oregon University is a public institution in Monmouth with 3,103 students scoring 45 on ROI - Below Average Value. The numbers are candid: average earnings at six years are $33,300, the completion rate is only 47.1%, and the payback period stretches to 12.4 years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.619 is elevated. Net price of $17,237 is not cheap for outcomes this weak, and low-income students pay $15,575 per year. The 98.1% admissions rate means the school admits virtually everyone, but less than half of those who enroll finish. Computer and Information Sciences is the one program with respectable earnings ($90,324 at four years), but only 23 graduates per year come through that track. Education is the largest program by graduates. Students considering WOU face a school where the median outcome barely clears $33k at six years.
Western Oregon University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,879/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $32,534/yr |
| Average net price | $17,237/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $68,948 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,815 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,609 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $218 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,103 |
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: $11,879/year ($32,534/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 $17,237/year, or roughly $68,948 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 $15,575/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,243/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,609, which works out to about $218 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,300) and comes to 0.62, 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 | $15,575 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,585 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,151 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,974 |
| $110,001+ | $20,243 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $15,575 per year at WOU. For a school producing average earnings of $33,300 at six years, charging low-income students $15,575 annually creates real financial stress. With a 47.1% completion rate, the risk of taking on debt without finishing is material for this population.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $14,585 - actually slightly less than the lowest-income tier, which is unusual and may reflect specific aid stacking. The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $16,151; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $17,974. The slope is moderate. Middle-income families are effectively paying near-full price for a public school given these net prices.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110k+) pay $20,243 per year. Against average six-year earnings of $33,300 and a 12.4-year payback period, the financial case for high-income families paying close to full rate is weak. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.619 is elevated.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Western Oregon University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Education, General | $46,042 | C+ |
| Psychology | $52,407 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $53,550 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $59,599 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,363 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,540 | D |
| American Sign Language | $48,295 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $49,630 | C |
| Biology | $45,268 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $90,324 | C+ |
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 and Information Sciences is the strongest financial program at WOU, with first-year earnings of $51,703 and four-year earnings of $90,324. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.503 with a C+ grade - acceptable but not exceptional.
Education, General
Education is the largest program at WOU by graduate count with 144 per year. First-year median earnings are $43,879 with a four-year median of $46,042. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.467 with a C+ grade. Oregon teacher salaries are relatively consistent across public school districts, providing stable but limited income growth. The earnings plateau visible in the four-year data - only $2,163 above year-one levels - reflects the structured salary schedules in public K-12 employment. Students choosing this track should account for the low earnings ceiling when evaluating the $17,237 annual net price.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration graduates earn $42,281 in year one and $59,599 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.579 with a C grade. The 73 annual graduates enter a regional job market in the Willamette Valley and greater Portland area.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Western Oregon University’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 | 98.1% |
| Enrollment | 3,103 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,388 |
Western Oregon admits 98.1% of applicants - essentially open enrollment. There is no selectivity signal from admissions data, and SAT/ACT bands are not published. Students are admitted broadly; outcomes depend heavily on program choice and persistence to completion.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Oregon University (this school) | 45 | $17,237 | $51,815 |
| Oregon Institute of Technology | 83 | $15,706 | $72,273 |
| Wayne State College | 46 | $15,360 | $47,075 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | 46 | $14,459 | $45,744 |
| Eastern Oregon University | 43 | $17,148 | $50,112 |
| Fairmont State University | 43 | $9,032 | $46,857 |
Who Thrives Here
WOU primarily serves Oregon students from rural and working-class backgrounds who want an accessible path to a degree. The 41.1% Pell Grant rate reflects significant financial need across the student body. With a 98.1% admissions rate and no published SAT/ACT bands, the school does not screen academically.
Transfer Pathways
WOU has articulation agreements with Oregon community colleges and accepts students through the Oregon Transfer Module and Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree. Many students start at Chemeketa Community College, Linn-Benton, or Clackamas Community College before transferring.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Western Oregon University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $17,237 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,815 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 47.1% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $20,609 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, 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.
Western Oregon University: Common Questions
Is Western Oregon University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Western Oregon University scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,237 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,815 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Western Oregon University 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 $17,237 a year, or roughly $68,948 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 Western Oregon University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,815 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,015 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 Western Oregon University?
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 12.4 years for Western Oregon University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Western Oregon University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,609, against average earnings of $33,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. 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 Western Oregon University?
The six-year graduation rate is 47.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.