Oregon doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 13 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 13 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Monmouth came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Oregon For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Oregon's towns land among the best college towns in America.
For more reading, check out:
| Colleges | Western Oregon University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,103 (27 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 11,428 |
| Median rent | $1,114 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,062 |
Monmouth is home to Western Oregon University. There are 27 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,114 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,062 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Oregon State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 30,743 (51 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 59,960 |
| Median rent | $1,391 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $31,653 |
Corvallis is home to Oregon State University. There are 51 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,391 a month, and the average cost to attend is $31,653 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Portland State University, University of Portland, Lewis & Clark College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 21,927 (3 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 641,165 |
| Median rent | $1,655 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $61,750 |
Portland is home to Portland State University, University of Portland, Lewis & Clark College. There are 3 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,655 a month, and the average cost to attend is $61,750 a year. It ranks 13th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southern Oregon University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,751 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 21,259 |
| Median rent | $1,387 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,636 |
Ashland is home to Southern Oregon University. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,387 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,636 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Pacific University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,516 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 26,529 |
| Median rent | $1,460 |
| Graduation rate | 72% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $72,374 |
Forest Grove is home to Pacific University. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,460 a month, and the average cost to attend is $72,374 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Eastern Oregon University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,172 (17 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 13,058 |
| Median rent | $968 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,718 |
La Grande is home to Eastern Oregon University. There are 17 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $968 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,718 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Chemeketa Community College, Willamette University, Corban University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,880 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 178,865 |
| Median rent | $1,400 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $45,224 |
Salem is home to Chemeketa Community College, Willamette University, Corban University. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,400 a month, and the average cost to attend is $45,224 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Linfield University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,621 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 34,596 |
| Median rent | $1,380 |
| Graduation rate | 77% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $65,935 |
McMinnville is home to Linfield University. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,380 a month, and the average cost to attend is $65,935 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | George Fox University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,699 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 26,066 |
| Median rent | $1,713 |
| Graduation rate | 74% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $58,644 |
Newberg is home to George Fox University. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,713 a month, and the average cost to attend is $58,644 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Oregon Institute of Technology |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,892 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 22,115 |
| Median rent | $986 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,524 |
Klamath Falls is home to Oregon Institute of Technology. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $986 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,524 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 13 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Oregon
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 13 towns in Oregon that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Oregon.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Oregon.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Oregon
If you're looking for the best college towns in Oregon, Monmouth is where to start.
The best college towns in Oregon are Monmouth, Corvallis, Portland, Ashland, Forest Grove, La Grande, Salem, McMinnville, Newberg, and Klamath Falls.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Oregon for 2026?
Monmouth is the best college town in Oregon for 2026, followed by Corvallis and Portland.
How did you rank the best college towns in Oregon?
We looked at every town in Oregon with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Oregon?
Medford ranks last of the 13 college towns we ranked in Oregon for 2026.
Best College Towns In Oregon For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monmouth, OR | 11,428 | 3,103 | $1,114 |
| 2 | Corvallis, OR | 59,960 | 30,743 | $1,391 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | 641,165 | 21,927 | $1,655 |
| 4 | Ashland, OR | 21,259 | 2,751 | $1,387 |
| 5 | Forest Grove, OR | 26,529 | 1,516 | $1,460 |
| 6 | La Grande, OR | 13,058 | 2,172 | $968 |
| 7 | Salem, OR | 178,865 | 8,880 | $1,400 |
| 8 | McMinnville, OR | 34,596 | 1,621 | $1,380 |
| 9 | Newberg, OR | 26,066 | 2,699 | $1,713 |
| 10 | Klamath Falls, OR | 22,115 | 2,892 | $986 |
| 11 | Bend, OR | 103,390 | 1,044 | $1,883 |
| 12 | Eugene, OR | 179,591 | 21,070 | $1,402 |
| 13 | Medford, OR | 86,315 | 22 | $1,376 |
Best College Towns By State
Best College Towns In Arkansas
Best College Towns In California
Best College Towns In Colorado
Best College Towns In Connecticut
Best College Towns In Illinois
Best College Towns In Maryland
Best College Towns In Massachusetts
Best College Towns In Michigan
Best College Towns In Minnesota
Best College Towns In Mississippi
Best College Towns In Missouri
Best College Towns In Nebraska
Best College Towns In New Hampshire
Best College Towns In New Jersey
Best College Towns In New Mexico
Best College Towns In New York
Best College Towns In Oklahoma
Best College Towns In Pennsylvania
Best College Towns In Rhode Island
Best College Towns In South Carolina
Best College Towns In South Dakota
Best College Towns In Tennessee
Best College Towns In Virginia
Best College Towns In Washington