Portland Community College (PCC), located in the Northwest Oregon area, is the largest higher education institution in the state of Oregon. PCC offers many different types of study programs, including traditional credit courses earned towards a two-year associate's degree or as part of a college-transfer program. PCC also allows students to pursue dual enrollment programs, wherein they combine their PCC credits with those from other institutions. Continuing education and adult basic skills programs are offered, as well as professional training and licensing for career advancement, among others.
History
Portland Community College was founded in 1961. In 1968, a new college district was formed, the Metropolitan Area Education District, to include the school districts of Portland and five other counties. The district's name was later changed to the Portland Community College District. In the 1990s, PCC's Cascade and Rock Creek campuses were completed, along with the establishment of several of its centers.
Academics
Portland Community College's academic calendar follows a four-quarter format, with fall, winter, spring and summer terms. Each term is roughly three months long.
There are 80 programs of study available at Portland Community College from many different departments. Students can pursue programs for general studies, pre-college transfer, two-year associate's degrees, professional training certificates, improving English skills or earning a high school diploma.
Colleges and Schools
PCC doesn't have separate colleges and schools, but its many departments offer the following study areas:
- Agriculture, Forestry, Marine
- Architecture
- Business
- Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics
- Criminal Justice, Human Services, Public Administration
- Engineering
- Fine Arts, Arts
- Foreign Languages
- Health, Physical Education and Recreation
- Health Professions
- Home Economics, Family Studies
- Journalism
- Liberal Arts, Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
Student Life
There are many student resources offered at Portland Community College's three comprehensive campuses, including online-distance learning options, academic advising, counseling, career advising, child care, student leadership opportunities, and more.
Athletics
The athletics program at Portland Community College is all about basketball. Its Panther Basketball Program, which includes men and women's intercollegiate basketball teams, has the ambitious goal of winning an NWAACC conference championship. Once it achieves this goal, PCC plans to transfer all its basketball players who are also graduating with an associate's degree to four-year universities as top student-athletes. PCC wants its Panther student-athletes to continue their athletic and academic careers at the university level and beyond.
Satellite Campuses
Portland Community College has three campuses in and around the Portland area: Cascade Campus, Rock Creek Campus, and Sylvania Campus. As part of its "Extended Learning Campus," PCC also has seven smaller centers that provide job training, specialized programs, and some college transfer courses. These seven centers are:
- CLIMB / Central Portland (CPWTC)
- Hillsboro Center
- Newberg Center
- Portland Metropolitan (PMWTC)
- Southeast Center
- Willow Creek Center
- Downtown Center
- Columbia County
Community Life
The city of Portland, known as "the City of Roses," is 70 miles from the Pacific Ocean and situated along the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Portland's historic old town is adjacent, offering many galleries and museums, theatres, shopping, Waterfront Park and many more attractions to enjoy. Not far from Portland are many outdoor attractions such as Hood River, Multnomah Falls, and Mount Hood. There are more than 200 parks in the Portland area, and the excellent public transportation system makes most destinations accessible.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $8,800. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition range:
- State Residents: $3,500-$4,100
- Out-of-State: $8,100-$9,677
- Charges per unit:
- In-State: $96-$120 per unit
- Out-of-State: $220-$270 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 54% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 44% | $4,845 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 31% | $5,461 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and recent graduates, Portland Community College may provide services like those listed below:
- Online classes
- Weekend and night classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Career path counseling
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Assistance to find work
- Day care
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Community colleges often times offer both career training courses and curriculum to help students transfer out to a 4-year college or university, that is why we include how this school compares for both graduation and transfer rates against other community colleges in Multnomah County and community colleges in Oregon in total.
| Portland Community College | Multnomah County | Oregon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 19.2% | 18.4% | 19.1% |
| Transfer-out Rate | 14.8% | 22.6% | 20.4% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Dental Assistant Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1964)
- Dental Hygienist Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1970)
- Dental Laboratory Technician Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1967)
- Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1970)
- Compare all associate's degree in nursing (ADN) programs in Oregon
- Radiology Technician Program
- Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1970)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Portland Community College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Landscaping (A, C)
Architecture
- Environmental Design, Architecture (C)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biotechnology (A, C)
- Zoology (A)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Business Administration (A)
- Accounting (C)
- Information Systems (C)
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services (C)
- Office Management and Supervision (A, C)
- Real Estate (C)
- Administrative Assistant (A, C)
- Retailing and Retail Operations (A, C)
- Customer Service Management (C)
- Advertising and Marketing (A, C)
- Data Entry Technology (C)
- Entrepreneurship (C)
- Ecommerce (C)
Communication Technology
- Animation (C)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Web Design (A, C)
- Computer Programming, Specific Applications (A, C)
- System Administration (A)
- Data Entry and Microcomputer Applications (C)
- Word Processing (C)
Construction Trades
- Construction Site Management (A)
- Electrical and Power Transmission Installation (A, C)
- Construction Trades
- Building Inspector and Home Inspector
Education
- Early Childhood Education (A, C)
- Teacher Assistant (TA) (A, C)
Engineering
Engineering Technology
- Industrial Production Technologies (C)
- Electrical and Communications Engineering Technology (A, C)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) (C)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technician (A, C)
- Mechanical Technology Technician (A, C)
- Architectural Drafting cad (A)
- Civil Engineering Technology (A, C)
- Construction Engineering Technology (A, C)
- Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting cad (A)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Sign Language Interpretation and Translation (A, C)
- Sign Language (C)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling (A, C)
- Medical Assistant (C)
- Dental Assistant (C)
- Health Information and Medical Records Technology (A)
- Radiology Technician (A)
- EMT & Paramedic (A, C)
- Veterinary Assistant (A)
- Medical Lab Technician (A)
- Dental Hygienist (A)
- Ophthalmic Technician (A)
- Radiologic Technology (C)
- Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nurse (C)
- Dental Laboratory Technology (A, C)
- Health Informatics (A)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Gerontology (A, C)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Paralegal (A, C)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A)
- General Studies (A)
Library Science
- Library Assistant (C)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) (A, C)
- Auto Body (A, C)
- Diesel Mechanic (A, C)
- Aircraft Mechanic (A, C)
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology (C)
- Auto Mechanic (A, C)
- Industrial Mechanics
Personal and Culinary Services
- Food Preparation and Professional Cooking (C)
Precision Production
- Welding (A, C)
- Machine Shop Technology (C)
- Machinist (A, C)
Public Administration and Social Services
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Medicine (A, C)
Security and Protective Services
Social Sciences
Transportation and Materials Moving
Visual and Performing Arts
- Commercial and Advertising Art (A)
- Design and Visual Communications (A, C)
- Music Performance (C)
- Interior Design (A, C)
- Cinematography And Film (A)
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Portland Community College.
- Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, OR (11 miles away)
- Clark College in Vancouver, WA (14 miles away)
- Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR (34 miles away)
- Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA (50 miles away)
- Tillamook Bay Community College in Tillamook, OR (54 miles away)