Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Open-data reference.

We found 12 schools structurally similar to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus that cost less. 12 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

$18,048
Net Price
$64,010
Median Earnings (10yr)
63.1%
Acceptance Rate
53.8%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus posts an average net price of $18,048 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Oregon State University-Cascades Campus across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 12 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $13,233, achieved by University of Florida-Online at $4,815. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 12 of the 12 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Oregon State University-Cascades Campus’s $64,010, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $72,565.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

12
Alternatives Found
$13,233
Max Savings
12
Better Value Options
60%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Farmingdale State College $70k 2. University of Connecticut-Wa $74k 3. University of Connecticut-St $74k 4. University of Connecticut-Av $74k 5. New Mexico Institute of Mini $76k Compared to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus: $64k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY · Public Better Value
$10,867 -$7,181 $69,781 54.9% 60%
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT · Public Better Value
$10,875 -$7,173 $73,997 56.1% 58%
University of Connecticut-Stamford
Stamford, CT · Public Better Value
$16,798 -$1,250 $73,997 56.7% 51%
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · Public Better Value
$13,807 -$4,241 $73,997 59.1% 49%
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM · Public Better Value
$9,873 -$8,175 $76,489 56.8% 46%
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT · Public Better Value
$16,403 -$1,645 $73,997 65.2% 46%
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · Public Better Value
$4,815 -$13,233 $71,588 81.2% 46%
Marion S Whelan School of Nursing of Geneva General Hospital
Geneva, NY · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$14,370 -$3,678 $70,771 N/A 44%
Trinity Health System School of Nursing
Steubenville, OH · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$9,825 -$8,223 $71,660 N/A 42%
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing
Miami, FL · Private For-Profit Better Value
$9,109 -$8,939 $72,275 N/A 41%
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · Public Better Value
$16,467 -$1,581 $69,960 70.3% 41%
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR · Public Better Value
$15,706 -$2,342 $72,273 56.3% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Oregon State University-Cascades Campus are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
We found 12 schools similar to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus that cost less. The closest match is Farmingdale State College with 60% similarity and a net price of $10,867.
What is the ROI of attending Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus has an average net price of $18,048. Former students earn a median of $64,010 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 3.5x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Oregon State University-Cascades Campus for less money?
Yes - 12 of 12 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Farmingdale State College costs $10,867 (saving $7,181) with median earnings of $69,781.
What is the cheapest alternative to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
The most affordable similar school is University of Florida-Online at $4,815, saving $13,233 compared to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus. It has a 46% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 12 alternatives have an average median earnings of $72,565 compared to Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's $64,010. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.