Head-to-head comparison
Western Oregon University vs Lewis & Clark College: which has better ROI?
Option A Monmouth, OR
Western Oregon University
- Net price / year
- $17,237
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,815
- Payback
- 20 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 20 years at Western Oregon University, on median earnings of $62,205 vs $51,815 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Oregon University | Lewis & Clark College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,237 | $36,013 |
| Total net cost | $68,948 | $144,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,815 | $62,205 |
| Median debt | $20,609 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 20 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $152 | $132,848 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Western Oregon University or Lewis & Clark College?
Western Oregon University, at $17,237 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $18,776 a year, or $75,104 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 Western Oregon University or Lewis & Clark College graduates earn more?
Lewis & Clark College graduates report a median $62,205 ten years after entry, $10,390 more than the $51,815 at Western Oregon 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, Western Oregon University or Lewis & Clark College?
Lewis & Clark College: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $20,609 at Western Oregon University, a difference of $1,109. 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 47% at Western Oregon 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.