Pacific University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Pacific University charges a net price of $35,273/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $141,092. Graduates earn a median $60,583 ten years after entry, $12,223/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.5 years — a 20-year net return of $103,368, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Pacific University's 11.5-year payback ranks #850 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 34% of them, and #11 of 38 in Oregon.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $35,273/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $141,092 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $60,583 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $12,223/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,223 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 11.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $103,368 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Pacific University's own numbers. Net price $35,273 × 4 years = $141,092 total. Median earnings $60,583 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $12,223 a year of premium. $141,092 ÷ $12,223 = 11.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $103,368. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Pacific University students graduate with?
A median $23,223 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $60,583 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Pacific University students graduate?
67% finish their degree — 33% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $141,092 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $210,585 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Pacific University expensive compared with other Oregon colleges?
Its $35,273 net price runs $18,333 above the $16,940 median across the 38 Oregon colleges we profile, or $73,332 more across the full degree.