community-collegetransferfinancial-aidOregon

Best Community Colleges in Portland: Transfer, Tuition & Programs for 2026

G

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

January 27, 2026

Compare 10+ Portland community colleges with tuition, earnings, and transfer data.

Quick Answer

Portland's community colleges offer an affordable entry point to higher education, with tuition well below four-year university rates. Strong transfer agreements with state universities mean you can start at a CC and finish your bachelor's degree at a fraction of the cost.

Why Community College in Portland?

Portland's community colleges offer an affordable entry point to higher education, with tuition well below four-year university rates. Strong transfer agreements with state universities mean you can start at a CC and finish your bachelor's degree at a fraction of the cost.

Community Colleges in Portland

Portland Community College (Portland)

Tuition: $5,040/year | Enrollment: 18,365 | 6-year earnings: $37,160

Nursing ADN graduates earn $80,297/year.

Chemeketa Community College (Salem)

Tuition: $6,210/year | Enrollment: 6,457 | 6-year earnings: $35,771

Nursing ADN graduates earn $76,909/year.

Lane Community College (Eugene)

Tuition: $5,879/year | Enrollment: 5,861 | 6-year earnings: $33,726

Nursing ADN graduates earn $73,718/year.

Mt Hood Community College (Gresham)

Tuition: $5,175/year | Enrollment: 3,540 | 6-year earnings: $36,246

Nursing ADN graduates earn $89,499/year.

Carrington College-Portland (Portland)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 295 | 6-year earnings: $35,208

Institute of Technology (Salem)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 261 | 6-year earnings: $35,573

East West College of the Healing Arts (Portland)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 232 | 6-year earnings: $22,618

Concorde Career College-Portland (Portland)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 186 | 6-year earnings: $39,264

Not sure which path is right? Compare colleges and trade schools near you with real salary data.

Try the Calculator →

How to Choose

PriorityBest Fit
Lowest tuitionPortland Community College ($5,040/yr)
Best post-grad earningsConcorde Career College-Portland ($39,264 at 6yrs)

Financial Aid

Federal Pell Grants (up to $7,395/year) often exceed full community college tuition. Check your state's grant and scholarship programs — many states offer free or reduced CC tuition for qualifying residents.

Next Steps

Compare Portland community colleges on GradeToGrad.

College vs. Trade School — Which Pays Off Faster?

Enter your ZIP code and compare tuition, time-to-career, and earning potential for schools near you.

Compare Pathways →