2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Oregon

[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for public health students.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Our analysis ranked Portland State University the best value for a degree in public health in Oregon. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $36,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Oregon University earned it the #2 place for public health. Set in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,514, compared with $32,169 for out-of-state students. Public Health graduates carry a median of $21,691 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $35,701. Set against $21,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Oregon State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Public Health graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $53,062. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Willamette University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,156 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,537 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Willamette University generally make around $41,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Linfield College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the town of McMinnville, Linfield College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,736. Students borrow a median of $27,455 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $47,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Linfield College admits about 85% of applicants.
Pacific University earned the #6 position for value in public health this year. Located in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,374. Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,277 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Pacific University generally make around $30,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.