2025 Top Online Community Colleges in Oregon
Learn about some of the top online community colleges in Oregon, and find answers to frequently asked questions about enrolling in a community college in Oregon.
If you live in Oregon and hope to attend a community college with a flexible schedule, keep reading! Below we explore some of the best online community colleges in Oregon and answer your questions about attending a community college.
Featured Community Colleges Online in Oregon
The following community colleges offer classes both online and in person, allowing students to choose the format that works best for them. Degree programs can be completed entirely online if desired.
1. Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College is a large college district enrolling around 30,000 students. It is headquartered in Salem and has several additional campuses and centers.
In addition, this school offers one of the most comprehensive online community college components in Oregon. Students can choose from a variety of programs, including:
- speech-language pathology
- hospitality and tourism management
- business administration
- criminal justice
- accounting
Both associate degrees and certificate programs are available.
2. Mt. Hood Community College
Mt. Hood Community College is located in Gresham. This public school opened in 1966 and currently enrolls around 33,000 students.
The school offers a wide array of online courses, making it possible to complete Associate of Science and transferable Associate of Arts degrees in many fields.
Depending on their program and the specific courses they need, students can choose to complete their studies entirely online, in person, or in a hybrid format.
3. Rogue Community College
Rogue Community College is a public college network comprising various locations in Josephine and Jackson Counties. The school was established in 1970.
Several transfer and career-focused associate degrees are offered in a fully online format. Certificates can also be completed.
Highly flexible classes often allow students to study at their own pace, allowing them to fit education into their lives in a way that works for them.
4. Portland Community College
Portland Community College is located in Portland and is the largest college in Oregon. It enrolls more than 50,000 students.
The school offers more than 400 online classes, allowing students to complete almost any degree program from the comfort of their own homes.
Though all classes have deadlines, students can study whenever it's convenient for them, allowing them to obtain a highly flexible education.
5. Umpqua Community College
Umpqua Community College is named for the nearby North Umpqua River. Located in Roseburg, it enrolls almost 20,000 students, many of whom study part-time.
Many online associate degree programs and certificates are available, including:
- entrepreneurship
- cybersecurity
- paralegal
- medical billing and collection
- water quality technician
Transferable Associate of Arts and Associate of General Studies degrees can also be completed online.
6. Lane Community College
Lane Community College is headquartered in Eugene, though it has several additional campus centers. It enrolls around 26,000 students.
This school offers a variety of online and hybrid courses so students can choose the most convenient option for them.
Courses can be used to complete an Associate of Arts or an Associate of General Studies degree entirely online.
7. Oregon Coast Community College
Oregon Coast Community College is a small school located in Newport. It was established in 1987 and has around 2,000 students, making it one of the youngest and smallest community colleges in the state.
This school offers a variety of online classes through its distance education program. These classes can be used to complete various degree and certificate programs remotely.
Though online classes offer some flexibility, students are expected to attend classes regularly just like campus-based students.
8. Central Oregon Community College
Central Oregon Community College is headquartered in Bend but has several additional campuses and centers. It serves around 15,700 students.
Students can enroll in online courses through the school's eLearning platform. A variety of courses are available each semester, allowing students to complete some degrees and certificate programs online.
Students are expected to participate in an online learning orientation and have the opportunity to tour a sample online course to decide if online learning is right for them.
9. Clackamas Community College
Clackamas Community College is located in Oregon City. It has more than 25,000 total students, most of whom choose to study on a part-time basis.
Remote online classes in a wide array of subjects are available. Students can also choose to participate in hybrid courses if desired.
It is possible to complete some certificate and degree programs by taking all online courses.
10. Southwestern Oregon Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College is located in Coos Bay. It was established in 1961, making it one of the oldest community colleges in the state.
This school offers an online certificate in supervision, along with a variety of online career-focused programs. Options include:
- HVAC technician
- CompTIA certification
- residential electrician
- property management
- physical therapy aide
Most programs are completed in a convenient, self-paced format.
Is Community College Free in Oregon?
None of the schools outlined in this article provide free tuition. However, it is possible to obtain financial aid to help you cover some or all of your college costs.
Federal financial aid from the FAFSA and scholarships can both help you pay for school. And, if you qualify for the Oregon Promise Grant, your remaining expenses may be covered.
This grant applies to all recent graduates or GED test takers who live in Oregon and plan to study at a community college in the state. It covers tuition costs for these students.
How Much Does Community College Cost in Oregon?
Oregon community colleges have different tuition rates and fees depending on various factors. If you're an in-state student, you can expect rates ranging from $120 to $150 per credit hour.
Students from other states or countries are typically charged higher amounts, from $150 to $250 per credit hour.
Oregon Community College Degree Types
Students at Oregon community colleges can complete a range of degree majors online. Specific types of degrees offered vary by school but typically fall into the following categories:
- Associate of Applied Science
- Associate of Science
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of General Studies
Certificate programs are also available in a variety of fields and specializations.
Career Opportunities for Oregon Community College Graduates
Those who graduate from an Oregon community college have the option of transferring to a bachelor's degree program at a four-year school or entering the workforce.
Those who begin working immediately often enter technical fields related to their highly specific degree programs. Examples include electrical, automotive, building and maintenance, and healthcare fields.
Some students pursue business endeavors such as entrepreneurship, office management, or marketing. Still others enter creative fields such as art or graphic design.
Find an Online Community College Today
If you're ready to get started, check out the online community colleges in Oregon discussed above to find out which one is the best fit for you.