The Value of a Private College

Pacific University may be more affordable than you think.

Did you know that one quarter of students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year private college or university have no educational debt? Nearly half have debt of less than $20,000, according to the Council of Independent Colleges.

While student debt is a serious concern nationwide, the reality is that most independent colleges are able to provide more robust financial aid packages to students than public institutions.

At Pacific University, nearly 99 percent of all undergraduates receive financial assistance toward their tuition, and as our endowment grows (by 36 percent in the last five years) we are able to provide even more scholarship support for students.

"I got an academic scholarship, and that’s when I realized Pacific was a solid contender,” said Olin Blackmore '15, a chemistry major and dance minor at Pacific. “My parents both work, and they work hard. I had a job in high school. I wanted an affordable college education.”

Countless students tell the same story.

Meanwhile, students at independent colleges like Pacific receive a top-notch education that prepares them for career and personal success. Independent colleges have higher graduation rates for all students — and in particular for low-income and first-generation students — than public institutions. 

A recent study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that more than 73 percent of students who attend a private college will earn their degree, while only about 62 percent of students finish at a public institution. Oregon high school graduates are particularly successful at private institutions: About 82 percent of Oregonians who attend private colleges earn their degrees.

Learn more about the value of a liberal arts education at independent colleges and universities, and visit Pacific University's Financial Aid Office to find out how Pacific can be the right choice for you.