Study in Portland, The United States

About Portland

Two U.S. cities are called Portland, and our directory lists schools in both. Portland, Oregon, lies in the Pacific Northwest on the west coast; it is home to two private liberal arts colleges, Reed College and Lewis & Clark College. Portland, Maine, lies on the Atlantic coast of New England in the north-east, and is the main campus of the public University of Southern Maine.

Students who look at Portland usually want a small college with close contact with teachers, or a mid-sized public university in a coastal city. Teaching is in English. Check which Portland a school is in before you plan your travel: the two cities are on opposite sides of the country.

Studying in Portland

All three schools listed under Portland are universities or colleges. College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's college database, gives these profiles:

• Reed College (Portland, Oregon): a private not-for-profit college founded in 1908, on SE Woodstock Boulevard, with 1,358 students, almost all undergraduates. Reed gives a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1 and runs the only nuclear research reactor at a U.S. liberal arts college
• Lewis & Clark College (Portland, Oregon): a private not-for-profit college on Palatine Hill Road with 3,504 students, 2,139 of them undergraduates; it also awards master's and doctoral degrees
• University of Southern Maine (Portland, Maine): a public university with 7,604 students, 5,525 of them undergraduates, and campuses in Portland, Gorham and Lewiston. It has students from more than 36 countries

Students who come for a full degree need an F student visa, which covers study at an accredited college or university. After admission, the school's international office issues a Form I-20, which is used to apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate. According to EducationUSA, the academic year usually runs from September to May, and international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

College Navigator gives these figures for full-time beginning undergraduates in the 2024-25 academic year:

• Reed College: $69,350 in tuition and fees, and $17,660 for food and housing on campus
• Lewis & Clark College: $64,828 in tuition and fees, and $15,648 for food and housing on campus
• University of Southern Maine: $27,944 in out-of-state tuition and fees ($11,284 for Maine residents), and $12,280 for food and housing on campus

These figures do not include health insurance, books or travel, and prices for international students can differ, so check each school's current cost of attendance.

In Portland, Oregon, TriMet charges $2.80 for an adult fare, valid for two and a half hours, and the fare is the same on buses, MAX light rail and WES commuter rail. Paying by card or phone, you never pay more than $5.60 a day or $100 a calendar month, and the same fare also covers the Portland Streetcar.

Getting around and daily life

In Oregon, Reed College is five miles from downtown Portland and 12 miles from Portland International Airport (PDX). From the airport, students can take the MAX Red Line and then a TriMet bus to the campus. In Maine, the University of Southern Maine says its students reach campus by bus, bike, train, carpooling or on foot.

The two cities have different climates. According to NOAA's 1991-2020 normals, Portland International Airport in Oregon averages 41.9 °F (about 6 °C) in January and 70.2 °F (about 21 °C) in July. Portland International Jetport in Maine averages 24.0 °F (about -4 °C) in January and 70.4 °F (about 21 °C) in July, so winters there are much colder.

Frequently asked questions

Which Portland are these schools in?

Reed College and Lewis & Clark College are in Portland, Oregon, on the west coast. The University of Southern Maine is in Portland, Maine, on the east coast.

How much does it cost to study in Portland?

For 2024-25, College Navigator gives tuition and fees of $69,350 at Reed College, $64,828 at Lewis & Clark College and $27,944 for out-of-state students at the University of Southern Maine, plus food and housing on campus.

How much is public transport in Portland, Oregon?

A TriMet adult fare costs $2.80 and is valid for two and a half hours on buses, MAX light rail and WES; with a card or phone you never pay more than $100 a month.

Is Portland a good place for a small college?

Yes, if you are looking at Oregon: Reed College has 1,358 students and Lewis & Clark College 3,504, according to College Navigator.