Online Colleges in Oregon

The Oregon Institute of Technology operates several campuses across the state, including one in Klamath Falls and one in Wilsonville. The school was established in 1947 near Klamath Falls as a vocational rehabilitation center for World War II veterans. Later, it expanded to offer associate and bachelor's degrees to all students. Now, its online campus awards both undergraduate and graduate degrees, plus several degree completion programs.

All of the school's degree completion programs fall within the healthcare field, including dental hygiene, diagnostic medical sonography, echocardiology, healthcare management, radiologic science, respiratory care, and vascular technology. These flexible programs cater to working professionals who already possess some higher education experience, allowing students to work and study simultaneously.

Online college courses include a survey of vascular technology, healthcare management, and dental ethics. Students at Oregon Tech must also take some general education credits, which they can complete at Oregon Tech or transfer in from another institution. The school requires students to complete coursework in communication, humanities, the social sciences, math, and science. The institute holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Prospective students may apply as freshmen or transfer students. If applicants possess fewer than 24 credits, they apply as freshmen and must submit high school transcripts (or proof of a GED certificate) and SAT or ACT scores. Transfer students should possess a minimum 2.25 GPA in their college-level coursework. Some bachelor's programs also expect students to possess professional experience. For example, the diagnostic medical sonography program requires its students to have previous experience as full-time sonographers.

A small Christian school, Salem-based Corban University enrolls over 1,100 students at its main campus. In addition, another 1,400 learners study at Corban through its distance learning programs. As one of the best online colleges in Oregon, Corban offers bachelor's degrees in business and psychology. The student-to-faculty ratio at Corban remains low, allowing professors to better focus their attention on individual students. The university also encourages distance students to collaborate with each other through online discussion tools.

Corban's online business program allows students to choose from three concentrations: accounting, leadership and management, and marketing. Psychology students may also choose between specializations in family studies or pre-counseling. The general education curriculum at Corban includes 61 credits of coursework, and students need a total of 120 credits to graduate. Corban holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The university grants online students several financial aid opportunities. For example, distance learners who visit campus receive a renewable $500 scholarship. Corban also offers a scholarship that covers the last 10% of students' tuition.

Applicants must hold a high school degree, and those with fewer than 30 credits of college-level coursework should also submit ACT or SAT scores. Corban expects applicants to have a GPA of 2.0 or higher in previous college classes and a minimum 2.7 GPA in high school. Because Corban functions as a Christian institution, the school requires prospective students to "profess faith and live a Christian lifestyle." Thus, applicants must submit a statement of faith and a Christian character reference along with their academic documents.

Oregon State University -- based in Corvallis -- operates as a public, land-grant institution. Over 30,000 students take courses at Oregon State, including more than 6,500 distance learners. Oregon State offers over 50 web-based degrees, as well as an exploratory studies program to help students decide which degrees to pursue. Students can access online advising sessions, academic consultations, and take a course that helps them identify potential careers.

Learners can choose from a variety of topics, including agricultural sciences, economics, psychology, and foreign languages. All degree-seeking students must complete 51 credits of general education coursework and 180 quarter credits overall. Individuals who want to take one or two classes, without necessarily pursuing a degree, can also enroll. Those with bachelor's degrees can complete graduate courses, including classes in business and education.

Oregon State's e-campus offers several resources for online students, including career services, Canvas tech support, and library access. Students can connect with their peers by joining online clubs, including those for women in science and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

OSU runs on an 11-week quarter system, allowing incoming students to choose from four different start dates each year. The school holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

First-time college students must hold either a high school diploma or an educational equivalent (such as a GED certificate). OSU prefers applicants to send in ACT or SAT scores, although this is not required. Students with at least 24 credits of college coursework may apply as transfer students.

Originally founded in 1905 as a college for Lutheran pastors and teachers, Concordia University still maintains its religious affiliation. As such, the school's undergraduate general education requirements include six credits in spiritual formation. The school continues its original mission to train educators, offering several undergraduate degrees in education. The private university enrolls around 5,500 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The university offers fully online bachelor's degrees in early childhood education, healthcare administration, and homeland security and emergency management. It also hosts a web-based MBA, master of education, and doctor of education. These online programs take advantage of various distance-learning tools, including audio and video lectures, discussion boards, online chats, and streaming voice conversations.

Undergraduate students must earn 31 general education credits and 124 credits overall to graduate with a bachelor's degree. Students enrolled in the healthcare administration program can fast track their education and graduate in as few as 16 months, depending on their previous college-level experience. The school offers up to six start dates throughout the year, depending on the program.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities grants Concordia regional accreditation. The school's education programming also holds accreditation from the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practice Commission.

First-time freshman must submit high school transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, two letters of recommendation, and a written essay. The university views applicants who possess more than 12 previously earned college credits as transfer students; these learners do not need to submit entrance exam scores, but they should send in transcripts from higher education institutions. Concordia offers many of its students financial aid, with 98% of incoming freshmen receiving some sort of monetary support from the school.

Linfield College -- a private school of about 2,500 students in McMinnville -- was founded as a Baptist college in 1858. In addition to its main campus, the college now features campuses online and in Portland. Although the school continues to honor its Baptist heritage, it does not require students to adhere to any religious requirements.

Students attending this accredited online college in Oregon can choose from several web-based programs. Distance learners pick from 10 bachelor's degrees, 19 certificates, and six minors. Undergraduate programs include accounting, computer information systems, global studies, marketing, and management.

Most of these programs fall within the field of business, but registered nurses can also enroll in the school's RN-to-BSN program. This degree track -- designed for nursing professionals with experience -- helps nurses become community leaders and promote better health within vulnerable communities. The program also boasts a co-admission partnership with other qualified online community colleges in Oregon, through which students can go straight from an associate program in nursing into Linfield's RN-to-BSN program.

Linfield holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and its nursing program holds accreditation from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Linfield accepts applications from recent high school graduates and transfer students. First-time freshmen should submit evidence of a diploma or GED certificate. Most transfer applicants must hold a minimum 2.0 GPA, although RN-to-BSN students need a 2.75 GPA or higher. Incoming students who hold significant work experience may transfer some of that expertise into course credit. They can also apply for credit based on prior life experiences by creating a portfolio or taking qualifying exams.

Eastern Oregon University refers to itself as "Oregon's rural university." Based in LaGrande -- a city of about 13,000 in the state's eastern region -- the school is surrounded by vast, open landscapes. The state legislature chartered EOU in 1929, and the school currently serves more than 3,000 students -- more than half of these learners take online or nontraditional courses.

The university offers several programs online, including undergraduate and graduate programing. Students can pursue many topics, including anthropology and sociology, early childhood education, fire services administration, and politics and economics. Learners can also earn a post-bachelor's accounting certificate through web-based courses. EOU offers e-tutoring to distance learners who need extra help in their classes. The university has held continuous regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1931.

EOU operates fast-track transfer pathways from partner community colleges. This option helps students who earned credit at specific colleges in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, and Texas seamlessly transfer into a bachelor's program at EOU. Students can also take advantage of the EOU and Blue Mountain Community College co-admission program, which allows students to take courses from both colleges at the same time.

Prospective freshmen applying without previous college experience should submit either SAT or ACT scores and high school transcripts demonstrating a minimum 2.75 GPA. Interested individuals may also apply with a GED certificate. Transfer students should possess at least 30 transferable college-level credits earned with a minimum 2.25 GPA. Prospective students may also apply for several institutional scholarships.

Established in 1936, Multnomah University began as seminary to train religious leaders. Today, Multnomah maintains its Christian affiliation, but the school also offers degrees unrelated to biblical studies through its main campus in Portland and online. The school remains small, educating about 400 students each year.

Students at this online college in Oregon can choose from five bachelor's programs in applied psychology, the Bible and theology, business management, healthcare management, and information technology. The IT degree offers specializations in cybersecurity and application development. Graduate students can also earn online seminary degrees. Undergraduate students need 124 total credits to graduate and core coursework in non-biblical majors requires students to take 18 credits of theology classes. Transfer students with a large number of credits can earn their degrees in two years.

The university holds both regional and theological accreditation. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities grants the school regional accreditation, while the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools accredits its seminary and theology-related programs.

Prospective students can apply as transfer students if they possess at least 24 credits of previous college-level coursework. Incoming freshmen should submit their high school transcripts or a GED score report. Applicants do not need to take entrance exams, but they should submit an academic or professional reference form.

Multnomah aims to make its educational opportunities affordable to students, and about 85% of learners at the school receive financial help from the university.

Situated in the Willamette Valley, just south of Portland, George Fox University educates over 4,000 students each year. More than 300 of those learners enroll in online adult degree completion programs. Founded in 1885, George Fox touts its status as the oldest Christian university in Oregon. Quaker pioneers established the school, and George Fox still operates as a Christian-affiliated university teaching the liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies.

This online college in Oregon does not offer traditional bachelor's degrees. Rather, students can enroll in adult programs. These programs operate at an accelerated pace and allow students with previously earned college-level credit to complete their degrees. Most of these programs last 16 months, except for the school's elementary education program, which runs for 20 months. Other online bachelor's programs include management and organizational leadership, healthcare administration, social and behavioral sciences, project management, and an RN-to-BSN pathway. Students typically finish each course in 5-6 weeks, although learners may also take some eight-week general education courses online. George Fox holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

To apply for these online degree completion programs, candidates must already hold at least 62 credits of college-level coursework (earned with a minimum GPA of 2.75). Applicants should also possess at least five years of professional work experience.

Students may also receive up to 30 transfer credits based on life experiences. The prior learning credit program takes a nontraditional approach to granting transfer credit, allowing students to claim credit through two pathways: professional training submissions and prior learning essays.

Portland State University intructs more than 27,000 students in over 200 programs. PSU also hosts several distance programs, making it one of the best online colleges in Oregon.

Distance learners can choose from nine online bachelor's degrees in subjects including criminology and criminal justice, human resource management, social science, supply and logistics management, and urban and public affairs. Non-degree-seeking students can pursue a range of certificates to help them advance in their careers, such as advanced crime analysis, teaching adult learners, and brew crafting. The school also hosts eight master's programs.

Some degrees use a hybrid format, requiring students to attend a portion of their classes in person. Most of PSU's bachelor's programs function as degree completion programs, meaning students should already hold a certain number of transfer credits before enrolling. Transfer students can complete their bachelor's programs in two years or less, depending on their previous academic experience.

PSU holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Its business and education schools also hold programmatic accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, respectively.

Individuals applying as transfer students should hold a minimum 2.25 GPA. Freshmen may apply through co-admission, which allows them to enroll simultaneously at PSU and a partner community college. Incoming students may also apply for several institutional scholarships.

Ashland-based Southern Oregon University was founded in 1872 by a Methodist pastor. Today, the institution educates more than 6,000 students. It also operates one of the best online colleges in Oregon, offering four undergraduate degrees, two graduate degrees, and two certificate programs to distance learners.

Undergraduate students may pursue degrees in business, business administration, criminal justice, and early childhood development. Business administration students may specialize in accounting or management. Master's students can study business or education, and learners can also opt to earn certificates in business information systems and accounting. SOU holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The university operates several of its online undergraduate offerings as degree completion programs. Students with associate degrees or at least two years of college experience may transfer previously earned credits into these programs and graduate in as little as two years. SOU also participates in co-enrollment, allowing students to take classes at SOU and a local community college.

All online distance learners must complete a capstone course. For education students, this means obtaining hands-on experience in practicum and internship settings. Alternatively, business students create comprehensive business plans, while criminal justice students complete major research projects.

Applicants must hold a high school diploma and submit ACT or SAT scores; however, SOU does not list minimum GPAs or entrance exam scores. Transfer students, however, should possess at least 24 credits of college coursework earned with a GPA of 2.25 or higher.