Head-to-head comparison
George Fox University vs Lewis & Clark College: which has better ROI?
Option A Newberg, OR
George Fox University
- Net price / year
- $31,679
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,761
- Payback
- 11.1 yrs
Option B Portland, OR
Lewis & Clark College
- Net price / year
- $36,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,205
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
Lewis & Clark College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,052 in 10.4 years versus 11.1 years at George Fox University, on median earnings of $62,205 vs $59,761 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | George Fox University | Lewis & Clark College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,679 | $36,013 |
| Total net cost | $126,716 | $144,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,761 | $62,205 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 11.1 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $101,304 | $132,848 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, George Fox University or Lewis & Clark College?
George Fox University, at $31,679 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $4,334 a year, or $17,336 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do George Fox University or Lewis & Clark College graduates earn more?
Lewis & Clark College graduates report a median $62,205 ten years after entry, $2,444 more than the $59,761 at George Fox University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, George Fox University or Lewis & Clark College?
Lewis & Clark College: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $24,250 at George Fox University, a difference of $4,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Lewis & Clark College, against 72% at George Fox University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.