Portland Community College vs. Southwestern Oregon Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Portland Community College in Portland, OR with Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Portland Community College is larger than Southwestern Oregon Community College based on total student enrollment (20,861 students vs. 1,551 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Portland Community College is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Southwestern Oregon Community College is in Coos Bay, OR (Remote Town setting).
• Portland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Oregon Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Portland Community College 19:1; Southwestern Oregon Community College 13:1.

Portland Community College vs. Southwestern Oregon Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Portland Community College or Southwestern Oregon Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland Community College than Southwestern Oregon Community College ($9,372 vs. $10,051).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Oregon Community College are 44.9% lower than at Portland Community College ($8,526 vs. $15,462).
• Southwestern Oregon Community College is 37.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Portland Community College (about $1,972 more per year; $7,192.00 vs. $5,220.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.2% higher at Portland Community College than at Southwestern Oregon Community College (about $3,248 more per year; $10,440.00 vs. $7,192.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Oregon Community College than at Portland Community College (84% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Portland Community College students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Southwestern Oregon Community College students ($7,297 vs. $6,494).

Portland Community College vs. Southwestern Oregon Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Portland Community College or Southwestern Oregon Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Southwestern Oregon Community College and Portland Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Portland Community College - Open admission; Southwestern Oregon Community College - Open admission.

Portland Community College vs. Southwestern Oregon Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Portland Community College and Southwestern Oregon Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Portland Community College earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Southwestern Oregon Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Oregon Community College graduates have a $4,792 lower median loan debt than Portland Community College graduates ($12,000 vs. $16,792).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern Oregon Community College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Portland Community College graduates ($124 vs. $173).
• More Southwestern Oregon Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Portland Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 36%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.