Is University of Portland Worth It?

University of Portland gives you a solid financial return, but the sticker cost puts pressure on which major you pick. With median earnings 10 years out comfortably above what you'd repay on median debt near $21k, most graduates come out ahead. The 80% graduation rate and 83% retention matter here: you're likely to finish, which is the single biggest factor in whether the price pays off.

Computer science is the clear winner, pairing the highest early earnings with debt in line with everything else. The engineering track splits sharply. Electrical engineering graduates earn well and carry the lowest debt of the listed programs, so the math works cleanly. Mechanical and civil engineering pay noticeably less while costing about the same to finance, so your return there is thinner. Nursing sits in the middle on pay but carries the heaviest debt load of any listed program, which narrows the gap between what you earn and what you owe. Portland's health system gives nursing a steady regional job market, which offsets some of that risk.

The main financial risk is the net price itself. At over $36k a year on average, a lower-paying major or an extra year to graduate erodes the return fast. If you don't land in computing, engineering, or nursing, run your own numbers before committing.

The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your household earns under $30k, you pay roughly $25k a year. above $110k, you pay closer to $44k. That's a real gap, so the aid genuinely helps if you qualify. This school fits you if you're targeting computer science, electrical engineering, or nursing, or if you fall in a lower income bracket. If you're full-pay and drawn to a lower-earning field, a cheaper option likely serves your wallet better.