Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Portland State, Eastern Oregon University, Oregon State, and Western Oregon University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Lewis & Clark.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Eastern Oregon University, Northwest Christian University, Treasure Valley Community College, and Southern Oregon University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Lewis & Clark, University of Portland, Concordia, and Pacific University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Linfield, University of Portland, Pacific University, and George Fox.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Lewis & Clark, University of Portland, and Pacific University.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Northwest Christian University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Pacific University, Lewis & Clark, Linfield, and University of Portland.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Western Oregon University • Monmouth, OR
Studying M.S.Ed With A Reading Endorsement (completion in 2010)
• 6/28/2011
"It was wonderful for the price. I learned a lot, and now I am done, which makes me happy."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think it is a good school for people pursuing education. It isn't perfect, but they are always changing and revamping things to make it a better school. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Western Oregon is a school known for its teaching program. It has a pretty good reputation for its teacher output. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I learned a lot and had some great teachers. I think I would've liked to go to a private university for my Master's, though. |
| Instruction | 8 | I learned a lot more in the graduate program than in the undergrad. I took classes while I was teaching, so I could apply a lot of what I learned. |
| How Difficult | 10 | This might be very subjective, but to me my program was hard. The most difficult part was writing the thesis and doing a research project. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were a lot of things we did, like practice writing assessments. We also had a lot of group work and projects that went beyond the book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Most of the graduate classes are at night, and they do offer summer choices. But they don't always offer what you need at the time. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | It has a good media center, and a great curriculum section where you can view state-adopted texts. The faculty is also very helpful and the library is very large. |
| Social Life | 10 | I had a wonderful experience as an undergrad. I met some amazing people that made college a great experience. The people in my grad program were also nice and helpful. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I didn't get any help from Western for job placement. The only help from them came in placing me in a classroom for student teaching. I had to find my job on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I think they have good alumni support. I don't know much about it, though. |
Portland State University • Portland, OR
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2008)
• 7/8/2011
"They provided me with a stable education that led to a master's in education. Other than occasionally struggling to answer our questions, it was a well balanced education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel like all schools have their downfalls but overall I got a well rounded educations. I have been able to bring what I have learned into the classrooms that I have worked in since graduating. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | PSU has one of many programs in the Portland Metro area. Based off of what I have heard from other schools, every program has its glitches, and PSU had its own. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I feel like I got a lot of classes on classroom management and creating your own curriculum which was wonderful. With that said, I feel like they didn't really prepare me for the required curriculum you teach, like Scott Foresman's reading or investigations math that one is supposed to use to guide your teaching. |
| Instruction | 7 | They provide you with in classroom training that gives you real life experience. I feel like they should be aware of which teacher they are matching you up with. It is difficult to learn and teach when you and the teacher who's helping you don't have the same ideas. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I think that there were some really easy classes, for example we had a curriculum class in which I had one assignment and other than that I just listened to them talk. There were also really difficult classes that went deep into your emotions and feelings. Some of the teachers were really helpful and available to talk to you when you had questions and some were not available at all. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I got to work in the classroom for three terms. The first term I was in the classroom for about a day in a half where I just watched the teacher. Then I switched classrooms for the second term where I taught three days a week in a kindergarten class and prepared my own sets of lesson. The third term I worked full time in the third grade class the I observed the first term. During this time I was expected to take anywhere from one to three classes during this time. I also took classes the summer before and after that school year. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | This school has a very set schedule. I was expected to take all my classes with my cohort and they scheduled it for me, so I didn't schedule my own classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | They have an entire library just for the teaching program. They have both a PC an Mac lab just for the school of education as well. |
| Social Life | 5 | I am sure they had all of this stuff but I wasn't interested in it. I was interested in getting through school and starting my career. |
| Placement Services | 4 | It had a resume support class that was helpful. When I went into the career service center they actually gave me suggestions of other jobs I could get other that teaching. I feel like I got more job guidance from the school I student taught than I did at PSU. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have never been contacted by the alumni association. I have also never received any information from them nor do I know how to contact them. |
University Of Portland • Portland, OR
Studying Education (completion in 2010)
• 7/13/2011
"I am thinking about going there to do my masters program. I really loved the atmosphere."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Since it's a private school it can be expensive. It is the best education I've ever received and I attended 3 other colleges before this one. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Our school has a good reputation for turning out wonderful teachers that are more prepared than other Oregon schools. We have more required student teaching hours than any other Oregon program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | They provided me with real world experiences that I use every day in the classroom. The staff there is supportive and get to know their students and what they need to be successful. |
| Instruction | 10 | We spent a lot of time getting up and leading the class through activities. It's a program that gets every student in on the discussions and up doing the activities. What I learned in the program really prepared me for when I stepped into the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I spent many hours outside of class working on homework. It was definitely more work than other college classes I have taken. They challenge you to meet their expectations. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I learn best through hands on and discussion of our real world experiences. I found the program had many hands on activities. We weren't reading from books all the time, although I did read a lot. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Since the school is small there is not a lot of flexibility in your schedule. I was able to move around some of my classes, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | For a small school we had everything we needed to be successful. Professors we're always available each day to answer questions and really took the time to help. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were always events going on at our school. Soccer and basketball we're big events with many people attending. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I received some emails about jobs available, but they were not in my area (I live over an hour away from the school.) It would have been nice to have had more help in finding a job. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The school provides many activities and organization for students to be involved in. There are teacher trainings that I get emails about from my school. They check in to see how we are doing once we've finished their program. |
Lewis And Clark College • Portland, OR
Studying Early Childhood And Elementary Education (completion in 2010)
• 7/18/2011
"Although there was a lot of transition going on while I was there, I think that the school has worked through this and is much stronger. The year long experience, educational theory background, and incredible reputation and job help make this school top notch."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would highly recommend this school for their reputation and supervisors that really help students get jobs. I feel that this program better prepared me to be an effective teacher, more so than any other program in the Northwest could have. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Employers in the Washington and Oregon area have told me that they specifically seek out graduates from Lewis and Clark. I have seen proof of this in my interviews and in the rates of jobs that have been obtained by Lewis and Clark graduates as opposed to graduates of other programs. I have also heard from numerous principals that Lewis and Clark graduates are some of the most well-prepared and advanced first year teachers they see. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel that my school prepared me with a strong background in educational theory, which helped me craft my ideas on best practices. There was a year long student teaching internship at the same school in the same grade, which really helped me experience first hand the whole roller coaster from the first day of school to the last - not just a glimpse of what a few months or weeks look like. |
| Instruction | 8 | I really valued the personal attention and deep understanding of educational theory and practice that the professors had, though my time there was during a time of transition in the staff, so there were some struggles and confusion that came with this. The professors were all still involved in the day-to-day operation of a school in one way or another, which provided a lot of insight and real-life validity to what they were teaching. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There was a lot of work required, but it was all very enjoyable and relevant, which made it easier. I had also studied a lot of the coursework in my undergraduate degree, which made the assignments go more smoothly. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The internship was a year long, which provided a great deal of hands-on learning. In class we constantly had to apply our learning to hands-on experiences. I would say that at least 75% of our class time was directly applying the learning to real-life experiences, making presentations for the class or other such hands-on learning activities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It is a very intensive program without much flexibility. The nature of the course requires that you be at a school when not in class, which I think is incredibly important, but can be difficult for those with children or who need another job. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The education department is set very far apart from the main campus and doesn't have great access to the library or computer labs. The buildings had construction going on while I attended, so many of the computer labs that were nearby and usually at our disposal were not available. |
| Social Life | 7 | There were activities at least a few times a month, and everyone became very close to the group of people in their cohort. However, there is not a lot of free time to attend social events during the program, so they weren't that important anyway. |
| Placement Services | 7 | It's hard to judge this since the teaching job market has been so difficult the past few years, but Lewis and Clark does a great job of connecting students to job fairs and giving them help with resumes, interviewing skills, etc. The professors and supervisors are very well connected and extremely willing to call principals, district staff, and other contacts to find out about jobs or get students interviews. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | While there is a good alumni network for the whole college, the portion that is just for Masters in Education students is a bit new and lacking. There is not a strong amount of outreach. |
Eastern Oregon University • Lagrande, OR
Studying Master's Of Science In Education (completion in 2008)
• 8/7/2011
"I have no complaints about EOU. I found it affordable, flexible, and of high quality."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For the same reasons stated above in the last question. EOU offers a quality education with affordable and flexible options. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Eastern Oregon University was named to the Best Colleges and Universities of the West list in 2011. It has also received distinction from US News and World Report as a best buy, but I can't recall the year that happened. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The university worked with me to utilize credits I had acquired from seeking certification in ELL, Reading, and Library Media. Their willingness to do this made it possible for me to finish my degree in a timely manner. |
| Instruction | 9 | Eastern Oregon University offers smaller classes allowing easy access to the teachers. I felt that the curriculum used and the training received was very pertinent to my success as a teacher. |
| How Difficult | 4 | The work load was reasonable and the teachers avoided fluff assignments, allowing you to move through the curriculum at a faster rate based on the successful completion of pre-requisite assignments. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The teaching program at EOU has a great mixture of book learning and hands on combined in each course. Whether you had your own classroom or not, you were required to apply what you were learning with students in a real classroom environment. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | EOU offers online options, closed caption options, distance learning, as well as regular classes. I found the offerings to be extremely flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The teachers that I had at EOU were very accessible at work or at home. Whenever I sought help through them or through other services like the library, I found people to be extremely helpful. |
| Social Life | 5 | This again would need to be an N/A answer for me. I attended EOU as a married adult with children, did several distance classes and really did not participate in the social aspect of college. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I marked average as there is not a choice that indicates not applicable. I have never used the job placement or career assistance services at EOU, so I really can't say. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Until you just asked me that question I hadn't really thought about it. But now that I think about it I have not been contacted at all by the alumni network. |
Portland State University • Portland, OR
Studying Curriculum And Instruction (completion in 2008)
•
"This is a completely arbitrary number based on averaging my scores from the other ratings. Suffice it to say that it was an excellent experience that will provide inspiration for years to come."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Not only would I recommend the school, I HAVE recommended the school. A couple of my recommendations have resulted in friends of mine taking up classes there. There are specific professors that I have recommended, and my advice has proven to be good. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I suppose this rating would be in comparison to the reputation of other programs in the area. I have gotten a lot of mixed reviews of the programs at U of O and the christian schools, but have heard nothing but good things about PSU. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I worked with brilliant professors in a small-class setting, and as a fabulous bonus, I formed some strong bonds with others in my cohort. It was great fun, and I learned extremely valuable lessons that directly applied to my classroom needs. |
| Instruction | 8 | Several of my professors - most notably, my advisor - easily earn a "10" for their passion, skills, and sincere interest in my success. As one might expect, there were a couple of bozos who really had no business teaching in a university setting. One in particular - who was supposed to teach a class on research that I was quite interested in - welcomed us to class on the first day, asked us what grade we thought we might earn by the end of the quarter, then simply gave us those grades. We never went back to the class. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It seems to me that rating the difficulty a "10" might imply that it was TOO difficult. The fact is that it provided the perfect balance of challenge and reward. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While the reading load was heavy, the instructional style was almost totally "hands-on" and project-based. Culminating activities always included group presentations and demonstrations; the activities resulted in real, useful classroom resources. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I live in the south Willamette Valley. PSU is in Portland. The professors worked with me to make that work, and it wasn't easy. I also had to take a couple of weeks off to deal with a family emergency, and they were very supportive and accommodating. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | PSU has an excellent library and other research resources. Some of the classrooms are new and fancy; some are in old OLD buildings that are tiny and full of flies, so I can't give it a "10.” |
| Social Life | 8 | Most of my social activity centered on the school's tribal center, and it provided an excellent experience. The school itself didn't really do much, but since I lived far away from campus, I wasn't able to participate in extra-curricular activities anyway. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Perhaps my situation is unique, but not only did the program work actively to connect my graduate work with the needs of my tribe; they have since been actively recruiting me as a future professor. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I'm in constant contact with my professors, but there hasn't been much support for or encouragement of cohort unity since graduation. I get a nice monthly newsletter, though. |
Western Oregon University • Monmouth, OR
Studying Middle Level Education (completion in 2009)
• 12/6/2011
"They did a great job in all areas for me, and I was able to get a job right away after graduation. I really enjoyed my time there and the cost was manageable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | They are known throughout the state for providing the best education to future educators. Also, the small atmosphere allows for much one-on-one time with professors, which is instrumental when problems arise. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | They are known as the best school for teachers in the state of Oregon. Also, when job searching, school administrators know they put out good graduates. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I love the entire school atmosphere and the professors were amazing. We, at times, had to do some busy work which is why I gave a 9 rather than 10. |
| Instruction | 6 | I feel like I learned a ton during the program, however it was not all career preparation. Much of it has never been used in my career, and I learned much more on the job than in the program. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The biggest challenge was finding time to do all the work. The difficulty of the work was not too much, just a lot of it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was very book oriented before the practicum, then exclusively hands on. This is the only way it works, I am sure most schools are this way. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They now have many summer and online offerings which has helped. It is a smaller campus with limited enrollment, so they are limited in how much they can offer. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The new library was amazing, and very helpful. They seem to be lacking in more modern technology when it comes to computers and high tech equipment. |
| Social Life | 6 | It was fine, probably about average. I was not much of a social student so I did not take advantage of many of these type of opportunities. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I got not help in actual job placement after graduation. However, during my practicum they were very helpful in placement. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | There is a magazine and I have gotten letters before. However, I don't know how much they really do to support alum if they need job placement. |
Oregon State University • Corvallis, OR
Studying General Science, Elementary Education, Public Health (completion in 2010)
• 1/4/2012
"I attended a state university as an out-of-state student. It was only minimally accommodating for me, as I transitioned from out of state to in state. The academic quality was lower in very large classes that I sometimes took, due to lack of personal attention."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If the person were also interested in another field, especially in the sciences, I would recommend my school. It is a great way to obtain a teaching license and also have additional education in a more specialized field. Great for someone going into high school or middle school, where they would be teaching a subject. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I feel that since my school only provides a bachelor-level double degree program in education, it is not the most ideal education source for those going into the education field. Other schools in the area provide the master's program. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My training was well rounded and child-focused. I feel a lot of what I learned is valuable, but some of it is not able to be put into use, due to tight structuring of curriculum in some schools. |
| Instruction | 9 | Instructors were overall very knowledgeable and experienced in the subjects they taught in. I felt that they cared about my success and were interested in providing feedback to me to assist in my progress. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I completed a bachelor-level double degree program. It was easy for me to add education on as a second (third) degree and only took about 2 years of additional credits to complete. The coursework made sense, and instructors were available for clarification as needed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a lot of book learning, but it was incorporated with full-time and part-time student teaching. Some classes involved making projects, working with manipulatives, and other hands-on types of activities relevant to future teaching practices. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I have always worked while attending school and was always able to find classes that fit my schedule. I was also able to take summer classes to complete my degrees. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The campus itself is strong as far as academic resources are concerned. The library is great and has a lot of technology available to students. |
| Social Life | 6 | The school is very large, and sometimes that makes it difficult to meet people and create relationships. Within the education program, many classes were smaller, which made it easier to meet and recognize people. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I did not receive any specific job placement assistance. I have also not been directed towards any resources that might assist me in my own search for a job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not really gotten a lot of alumni support. I have received some information on making donations and information on continuing my education further. |
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