Head-to-head comparison
Pacific University vs Reed College: which has better ROI?
Option A Forest Grove, OR
Pacific University
- Net price / year
- $35,273
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,583
- Payback
- 11.5 yrs
Option B Portland, OR
Reed College
- Net price / year
- $33,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,927
- Payback
- 9.1 yrs
Reed College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $132,052 in 9.1 years versus 11.5 years at Pacific University, on median earnings of $62,927 vs $60,583 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pacific University | Reed College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,273 | $33,013 |
| Total net cost | $141,092 | $132,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,583 | $62,927 |
| Median debt | $23,223 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 11.5 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $103,368 | $159,288 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pacific University or Reed College?
Reed College, at $33,013 a year after aid versus $35,273 — a gap of $2,260 a year, or $9,040 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 Pacific University or Reed College graduates earn more?
Reed College graduates report a median $62,927 ten years after entry, $2,344 more than the $60,583 at Pacific 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, Pacific University or Reed College?
Reed College: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $23,223 at Pacific University, a difference of $1,723. 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 67% at Pacific 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.