10 Best Colleges and Universities Near Vancouver, WA

The city of Vancouver, Washington, is located along the Columbia River that forms the border between Washington and Oregon, just across the river from Portland.

This thriving set of cities creates an ideal context in which to live and study.

Below, we highlight the universities and colleges near Vancouver, WA, to help you make a well-informed decision about where to enroll.

Featured Colleges near Vancouver, WA

Vancouver itself is home to two institutions of higher education, Clark College and WSU-Vancouver. This list also includes colleges near Vancouver, Washington with some located in Oregon.

1. Clark College

Clark is a public college that mainly offers associate degrees but does award some bachelor's degrees. This nonresidential school serves 6,593 undergraduates, with a solid 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

However, a red flag might be its very high ratio of part-time (contingent) faculty compared to full-time faculty (505 to 177).

Annual tuition is $4,529 for WA residents and $10,133 for non-residents. More than half (56%) of students receive aid averaging $6,853. Student demographics show a population that is 63% white and 15% Latino.

The most popular programs are business, computer and information systems, dental hygiene, and human services, with 52% of students exclusively enrolled in online courses. Clark College has a 39% graduation rate

2. Washington State University-Vancouver

As one of six campuses of the public Washington State University system, WSU-Vancouver is a relatively small, non-residential branch campus serving 2750 students.

The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:14. Awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, with undergraduate majors in 26 fields, WSU-Vancouver has a 75% first-year retention and a 56% six-year graduation rate.

Annual tuition is $11,307 for in-state students and $26,991 for those from outside Washington.

Across the Columbia River in Oregon, Portland is home to many universities and colleges near Vancouver, WA. A few include:

3. Lewis & Clark College

This private, nonprofit residential college provides students with bachelor's, master's, and professional doctorate degrees.

It serves an undergrad population of 2,200, of whom 68% are white and 99% are of traditional age (24 and under). The student-to-faculty ratio is 13 to 1.

The largest number of graduates major in the health professions, social sciences, education, psychology, and the biological & biomedical sciences. The college does not provide distance education.

The first-year retention rate is a high 86%, with an admirable 73% graduation rate.

Tuition at this school is $59,684, although 100% of students receive financial aid that averages $38,167 per year to offset the cost.

4. Reed College

Another small liberal arts college in Portland is Reed College, with a tuition that is even steeper than that of Lewis & Clark, at $64,760.

However, 64% of Reed students receive an average of $47,864 in financial aid as they work toward their bachelor's degrees on this residential campus.

Reed serves a student population of 1,523 undergraduates, the majority hailing from out-of-state. 60% are white, while 99% are of traditional age (24 or younger). The student-to-faculty ratio is an aspirational 9 to 1.

Also commendable is Reed College's 86% first-year retention rate and stellar 80% graduation rate. The school has no online programs.

The most-enrolled major programs at Reed are in the social sciences, foreign languages, literature, linguistics, biological & biomedical sciences, visual & performing arts, psychology, and physical sciences.

5. Portland State University

Portland State University is a large public university with a residential campus that offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. This state school serves a racially and ethnically diverse

student population of 16,862 undergraduates.

The areas in which most degrees were recently awarded include business, the social sciences, visual & performing arts, the health professions, psychology, engineering, and biology.

Portland State's student-to-faculty ratio is 17 to 1, which suggests large classes.

The university has a 72% first-year retention rate and a 53% six-year graduation rate. Students are mixed, age-wise, with two-thirds being of traditional age and one-third aged 25 or older.

One out of every five students is exclusively enrolled in distance education (online programs).

The annual tuition is $10,806 for Oregon residents and $29,706 for non-residents. However, 89% of students receive financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships that average $9,750.

6. University of Portland

The University of Portland is a private, nonprofit school that awards bachelor's, master's, and professional doctoral degrees. A residential campus, U of P serves 3,390 undergraduates, with an outstanding student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.

Two-thirds of the students choose to attend from outside the state, attracting a diverse student body with white, Asian, and Latino students (though only 2% are African American).

The largest number of graduates are in nursing and other health professions, as well as business and engineering. The school can boast an 86% first-year retention rate and a 78% graduation rate.

Tuition is $51,812, though 99% of students receive an average of $33,657 of aid each year.

7. Evergreen State College

This stories public university in Olympia, Washington, with a residential campus that serves about 1850 undergrads, attracts a sizeable percentage (30%) of out-of-state students because of its reputation.

A full 80% of Evergreen students graduate with degrees in liberal studies, with the remainder in multidisciplinary studies (biological and physical sciences).

Today, one-third of students take classes exclusively online. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17 to 1.

Evergreen has a 65% retention rate but a mediocre 41% six-year graduation rate. Tuition is $8,750 a year for WA residents but $30,059 for non-residents. All students receive financial aid, with an average award of $10,411.

8. Pacific Lutheran University

Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pacific Lutheran is a private, residential university that provides bachelor's, master's, and professional doctoral degrees.

The school has an admirable 78% retention rate and 72% graduation rate.

Serving 2,300 undergraduates with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1, the school offers a wide range of liberal arts degree programs as well as nursing and business administration.

100% of students receive financial aid averaging $36,435, which helps to offset the $50,928 a year tuition and fees.

9. Pierce College

Pierce College, a four-year public residential college offering certificates, associate, and bachelor's degrees, enrolls more than 8,600 students, although its faculty-to-student ratio is a less-desirable 1:21.

Students are a blend of traditional and nontraditional ages, with a diverse racial and ethnic mix. With 43% of students exclusively enrolled in online learning. Pierce has a 38% graduation rate.

Annual tuition is $4,539 for Washington students and $4,902 for non-residents. Half of Pierce's students receive financial aid awards averaging $6,177.

10. University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

The residential Tacoma campus is home to 4,083 undergraduate students and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Leading disciplines include computer sciences, psychology, criminal justice, health professions (including nursing), business administration, and biomedical sciences.

The first-year retention rate is 75%, with a 54% graduation rate. Demographics are racially and ethnically diverse. The annual tuition is $12,458, and 77% receive aid averaging $12,961 per student.

What Is the Biggest School Near Vancouver, WA?

Within Vancouver, the largest school is Clark College, with 6600 undergrads, while in neighboring Portland, OR, the largest school by far is Portland State University, which serves about 17,000 undergraduates.

How To Choose the Right College Near Vancouver, WA

While Vancouver, WA, itself only has a handful of colleges and universities, you can find a greater variety across the state line in Oregon or elsewhere in Washington, giving you a rich choice of school types.

To choose the right college to fit your needs, you should consider:

• the size of the school
• whether it is residential
• the faculty-student ratio
• its academic program
• the cost of tuition

Paying for Your Degree Near Vancouver, WA

Each university's cost is offset by the average amount of financial aid that students receive. This should provide an idea of how much you might pay.

Be sure to work closely with a financial aid officer at your chosen school and submit your FAFSA application to ensure that you receive all the aid for which you might be eligible.

Start Your Degree Near Vancouver, WA Today

If you want to attend college near Vancouver, WA, now is a great time to reach out to admissions offices and find answers to all your questions.