Head-to-head comparison
University of Portland vs Oregon State University-Cascades Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Portland, OR
University of Portland
- Net price / year
- $28,210
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,804
- Payback
- 3.3 yrs
Option B Bend, OR
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
- Net price / year
- $18,048
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,010
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
University of Portland has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,840 in 3.3 years versus 4.6 years at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, on median earnings of $82,804 vs $64,010 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Portland | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,210 | $18,048 |
| Total net cost | $112,840 | $72,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,804 | $64,010 |
| Median debt | $21,370 | $21,221 |
| Payback | 3.3 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $576,040 | $240,808 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Portland or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, at $18,048 a year after aid versus $28,210 — a gap of $10,162 a year, or $40,648 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 Portland or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus graduates earn more?
University of Portland graduates report a median $82,804 ten years after entry, $18,794 more than the $64,010 at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus. 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 Portland or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus: its completers carry a median $21,221 in federal loans versus $21,370 at University of Portland, a difference of $149. 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?
80% of students finish at University of Portland, against 56% at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus. 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.