Pacific University: Oregon’s Opportunity University
Learn how college access and average college graduate salary influence opportunity.
Thinking about college? Attend one of Pacific’s Junior Open House events where you can explore campus, meet faculty and discover what it truly means to be a Boxer.
What is an opportunity university? In higher education, opportunity is about helping students activate and achieve their purpose. At Pacific University, we help our students unlock opportunity by identifying and nurturing their potential, helping them cultivate a sense of belonging at Pacific, in their communities and in their eventual careers. This holistic support is the engine that creates opportunity so that Pacific students can pursue their purpose.
Opportunity in higher education can be measured in many ways, from students’ personal goals and benchmarks to standardized metrics. Although there are a variety of college ranking systems, the Carnegie Classification measures the opportunity provided to students by colleges and universities on an axis of access and earnings. This measurement helps prospective students compare the social and economic mobility of graduates from different institutions. Rather than seeking historical prestige or a focus on research, today’s prospective college students are often most concerned with the support they will receive while attending college and how their degree will contribute to their career after graduation.
Access: How Will My University Support Me?
What is college access? In higher education, “access” is an important and often discussed word. But what does access actually mean for a student’s experience? College access is about the support offered to students throughout their college experience, from application all the way through graduation. A high access institution is one that is dedicated to supporting students — particularly students from communities who have, historically, had less access to higher education. Colleges catering to first-generation students, for instance, are often high access institutions. High access institutions help prospective students navigate the admissions process and can offer generous financial aid. They also support students once they arrive on campus with clear advising, tutoring and other academic programs, as well as creating a campus culture that helps students to earn their degrees and build community.
Per the Carnegie Classification, Pacific University is a high access university, which is reflected in our admissions process and in our commitment to supporting students throughout their time at Pacific. In addition to providing generous financial aid, high access universities — like Pacific — support students by, for example, establishing programs for veterans, creating an autism-inclusive campus, providing transfer student support and creating programs to support first-generation students.
Earnings: What Salary Can I Earn After Graduation?
The other factor used to assess opportunity in higher education is earnings after graduation. This metric is meant to reflect how well universities prepare their graduates for careers. Higher education can be a profound experience of intellectual, emotional and social growth — much of what is learned in college is valuable for its own sake. Still, a college degree is an investment of both time and money and it’s important to practically consider the return on that investment. This is often measured in career opportunities and earning potential. Many college rankings systems track the average salary of college graduates, as well as post-graduation debt ratios.
One of the drawbacks of this measurement is that it only looks at a small section of time after graduation. For example, the Carnegie Classification measures earnings eight years out from graduation. While this allows graduates time to establish their early careers, statistics show that the earnings value of a college degree is significantly higher in later career stages, beginning about 11 years after graduation.
In the Carnegie Classification, Pacific University ranks as high access and medium earnings, missing the high earnings ranking by a very slim margin. Pacific is committed to increasing graduate earning potential for future students through internship programs, alumni networking and career advising.
Pacific: Oregon’s Opportunity University
As Oregon’s Opportunity University, Pacific University provides students with pathways to turn potential into purpose. Here, opportunity knows no bounds and the potential of all Pacific students is nurtured and supported, so that our students are empowered to thrive. With robust financial aid and Pacific Priority programs that guarantee a path forward, we remove barriers that limit students’ abilities to achieve their potential. Through experiential learning, personalized mentorship and community connection, Pacific guides students throughout their education and toward purposeful careers. When they graduate, our alumni become cornerstones of their communities across Oregon and around the world, helping to build a better future.
Pacific is one of the top private research universities in the Pacific Northwest and empowers you to pursue your purpose with real-world training.