Head-to-head comparison
Oregon State University vs Reed College: which has better ROI?
Option A Corvallis, OR
Oregon State University
- Net price / year
- $19,604
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,010
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Option B Portland, OR
Reed College
- Net price / year
- $33,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,927
- Payback
- 9.1 yrs
Oregon State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,416 in 5 years versus 9.1 years at Reed College, on median earnings of $64,010 vs $62,927 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oregon State University | Reed College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,604 | $33,013 |
| Total net cost | $78,416 | $132,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,010 | $62,927 |
| Median debt | $21,221 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $234,584 | $159,288 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oregon State University or Reed College?
Oregon State University, at $19,604 a year after aid versus $33,013 — a gap of $13,409 a year, or $53,636 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 Oregon State University or Reed College graduates earn more?
Oregon State University graduates report a median $64,010 ten years after entry, $1,083 more than the $62,927 at Reed College. 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, Oregon State University or Reed College?
Oregon State University: its completers carry a median $21,221 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Reed College, a difference of $279. 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?
71% of students finish at Reed College, against 70% at Oregon State 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.