Head-to-head comparison
University of Oregon vs Lewis & Clark College: which has better ROI?
Option A Eugene, OR
University of Oregon
- Net price / year
- $22,182
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,324
- Payback
- 6.8 yrs
Option B Portland, OR
Lewis & Clark College
- Net price / year
- $36,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,205
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
University of Oregon has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $88,728 in 6.8 years versus 10.4 years at Lewis & Clark College, on median earnings of $61,324 vs $62,205 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Oregon | Lewis & Clark College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,182 | $36,013 |
| Total net cost | $88,728 | $144,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,324 | $62,205 |
| Median debt | $20,139 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 6.8 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $170,552 | $132,848 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Oregon or Lewis & Clark College?
University of Oregon, at $22,182 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $13,831 a year, or $55,324 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 University of Oregon or Lewis & Clark College graduates earn more?
Lewis & Clark College graduates report a median $62,205 ten years after entry, $881 more than the $61,324 at University of Oregon. 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, University of Oregon or Lewis & Clark College?
Lewis & Clark College: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $20,139 at University of Oregon, a difference of $639. 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 University of Oregon. 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.