University of Portland vs Lewis & Clark College: which has better ROI?
University of Portland has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,840 in 3.3 years versus 10.4 years at Lewis & Clark College, on median earnings of $82,804 vs $62,205 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Portland | Lewis & Clark College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,210 | $36,013 |
| Total net cost | $112,840 | $144,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,804 | $62,205 |
| Median debt | $21,370 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 3.3 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $576,040 | $132,848 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Portland or Lewis & Clark College?
University of Portland, at $28,210 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $7,803 a year, or $31,212 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Portland or Lewis & Clark College graduates earn more?
University of Portland graduates report a median $82,804 ten years after entry, $20,599 more than the $62,205 at Lewis & Clark College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Portland or Lewis & Clark College?
Lewis & Clark College: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,370 at University of Portland, a difference of $1,870. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at University of Portland, against 75% at Lewis & Clark College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.