Colleges in Portland
Portland is the most populous city in the state of Oregon, as well as the largest. Since the swell in population in the 1830s with its close proximity to the end of the Oregon Trail, it’s become a major port for the Willamette Valley Region of the Pacific Northwest. It’s also accumulated more than 15 institutions of higher learning, including several that are nationally ranked.
The largest by enrollment in the city is the Portland State University, which is also the second largest by enrollment in the entire state, after Oregon State University. PSU offers over 120 undergraduate degrees, as well as nearly as many postgraduate degrees, and it is the only public, urban institution in the state to be located in a major metropolitan city. While PSU wasn’t established as a university until 1969, Portland hosts several older institutions, including Reed College, which was founded in 1908 and Lewis & Clark University, founded in 1867, both of which are liberal arts institutions. The Oregon Culinary Institution is the only for-profit trade school in the city.
The University of Portland is the only Roman Catholic comprehensive institution in the entire state, but there are three other religious institutions in Portland Multnomah University, Cascade University, and Warner Pacific University.
There are few institutions that focus on medicine in Portland’s city limits, including the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, the University of Western States, and the National University of Natural Medicine. The Oregon Health & Science University founded in 1887 is the oldest, and is comprised of three academic colleges in nursing, dentistry, and medicine, as well as two hospitals. There are several higher education institutions that focus in fine arts, as well, including the Pacific Northwest College of the Arts, The Art Institute of Portland, and the Northwest Film School. Other higher education facilities include Concordia University and Linfield College.
Often referred to as the City of Roses, Portland is home to the International Rose Test Garden, which features 7,000 rose bushes. With a high walkability level, large bicycle commuter population, and farm-to-table dining, Portland is also considered one of the most environmentally conscious cities. There are a number of public transportation options, including streetcars, ride sharing, and biking.
