At $15,987/yr net price, Eastern Oregon University graduates earn $50,112/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $16,112/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $15,987 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $63,948 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,112/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$16,112/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 36.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,069/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,341/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,217/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,701/yr |
| $110,001+ | $21,428/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Protection. | Bachelor | $92,632 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $43,798 | $20,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $35,274 | $19,757 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $35,060 | $17,895 |
| Education, Other. | Bachelor | $34,942 | $24,874 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $33,281 | $20,237 |
| Social Sciences, Other. | Bachelor | $33,281 | $21,583 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $31,423 |
The Risk Factor
36.6% of students at Eastern Oregon University graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Eastern Oregon University gives you a middling financial return with one big warning sign. The $50,112 median earnings ten years out sit above the roughly $20,500 you'd borrow, so a typical degree here pays for itself over time. But the 36.60% graduation rate means most people who enroll never finish, and a degree you don't complete leaves you with debt and no earnings bump to cover it. That is the central risk at this school, and it applies to you before any major-specific math does.
The program picture is stark. Fire Protection stands alone at $92,632, roughly triple what the next bachelor's field pays. If that career fits you, EOU is a genuinely strong bet. Everything else clusters low: Business Administration, Health and Physical Education, Education, and Psychology all land in the mid-$30,000s. Education, Other is the worst deal on the list, pairing the lowest earnings tier with the highest debt of any program shown near $25,000. Psychology and general business here will not pay you much more than a job requiring no degree, so pick them only if you have a specific plan.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families and punish higher ones. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $12,000 a year. Above $110,000, you pay over $21,000, nearly double, and at that price the low median earnings make the return thin.
You are a good fit if you're headed into fire protection, or if you qualify for the lower income tiers and are confident you'll graduate. Look elsewhere if you'd pay the top-tier price for a psychology or general education degree, since the earnings here won't justify that cost. Before committing, be honest about whether you'll be in the 37% who finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eastern Oregon University worth the cost?
Eastern Oregon University's low graduation rate of 37% makes it a risky investment for most students. With median earnings of $50,112 ten years after graduation and a net price of nearly $16,000 annually, the return on investment is poor unless you're entering fire protection, which pays significantly more than other programs.
What are the best paying majors at Eastern Oregon University?
Fire protection graduates from Eastern Oregon University earn $92,632 annually, making it the only program that provides strong financial returns. Most other majors, including education and business, result in earnings between $34,000-44,000, which barely justifies the cost of attendance.
How much student debt do Eastern Oregon University graduates have?
Eastern Oregon University graduates carry a median debt of $20,500, which is manageable compared to many schools. However, with most graduates earning under $45,000 annually, even this moderate debt load can strain budgets for years after graduation.
Does Eastern Oregon University have good job placement rates?
Eastern Oregon University's 37% graduation rate suggests many students struggle to complete their programs, which raises concerns about job placement success. The school's open admission policy (99% acceptance rate) means academic preparation varies widely among students.