Why It Matters
Oregon students face some of the highest public university costs in the western United States, with tuition increases outpacing inflation in six of the last ten years. The trend affects Idaho families whose children attend Oregon schools and reflects broader regional challenges in higher education funding.
What Happened
All seven of Oregon’s public universities will raise tuition this fall, continuing an unbroken streak that began in the 2014-15 school year. The increases average 4.3 percent annually over the past decade, adding approximately $430 to student costs each year.
University boards cited enrollment declines, inflation, rising labor costs, and budget shortfalls as reasons for the hikes. State officials must approve any tuition increase exceeding 5 percent.
Ben Cannon, director of the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission, acknowledged that tuition in Oregon is too high and blamed insufficient state funding for the persistent increases.
By the Numbers
$6,500: Oregon’s per-student funding for full-time university enrollment, less than half the national average of $11,150
$38,000: Average federal college debt load carried by more than 500,000 Oregonians paying back student loans
40 percent: Decline in enrollment at Portland State University since 2017, dropping from 27,000 students to approximately 19,700
50 percent: Proportion of enrollment made up by out-of-state students at Oregon State University and University of Oregon, who pay two to three times resident tuition rates
$1,200: Average tuition increase for non-resident undergraduate students next year
Zoom Out
Oregon ranks among the lowest third of states for public investment in higher education, according to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Student tuition and fees now account for more than half of revenue at every Oregon university, one of the highest proportions nationwide.
Twenty-five years ago, public funding covered up to 75 percent of university costs per full-time employee. That figure has dropped to 50 percent or less. Oregon provides significantly less per-pupil funding than neighboring Washington and California.
Enrollment across Oregon’s public universities has remained flat or declined over the past decade, with Oregon State University the sole exception showing 17 percent growth since 2017.
What’s Next
Eastern Oregon University’s Board of Trustees will vote on a proposed tuition increase at the end of May. The board typically approves administrative recommendations.
State officials noted that many students pay less than the published tuition price through federal and state support programs and institutional aid, though the sticker price continues to rise.
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