Featured Research – Oregon Higher Education and Training by the Numbers

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is responsible for data collection, analysis, reporting, and research on postsecondary education and workforce training in Oregon. Our data helps inform efforts to improve affordability, equity, student success, and economic and community impact for Oregonians statewide. Here we are pleased to present featured research and findings about Oregon learners and how they are served by the education and training system today.

In addition to the information featured here, you can also explore links to our research, data and reports from the page below.

HECC Research, Data, and Reports

Higher Education and Training by the Numbers

Featured Research Briefs and Reports

Reporting and Progress

Learn about some of our featured reporting and find recent legislative reports at the links below. You can find additional data in Key Performance Measures, Statewide Snapshots, and Interactive Data on Students and Outcomes. Learn more about some of the actions we are taking to drive progress in Recent Initiatives and Activities.

Affordability Reporting and Progress
Equity Reporting and Progress
Legislative and Policy Reports - Current and Past

Fall Fourth Week Enrollment Summary for Public Institutions

Across all public institutions, fall fourth week enrollment rose 4.3 percent this fall, compared to 2022. This is the largest increase since the pandemic began. However, enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The number of learners at community college is higher in 2023 than in 2022 (84,740), rising 7.3 percent. The number of public university learners is slightly higher in 2023 than in 2022 (96,950), rising 1.6 percent.

Read a research brief on improvements in affordability at Oregon public colleges and universities from 2019-20 to 2021-22, and the underlying reasons behind these improvements. Through a combination of expanded financial aid, reduced enrollment, and relatively stable tuition in recent years, more Oregon students at public colleges and universities had resources to cover the cost of attendance from 2019-20 to 2021-22 than in prior years.

Postsecondary Employment Outcomes Tool

Through a partnership with United States Census Bureau, we are pleased to share an online searchable data tool with information on the employment outcomes of postsecondary education and training. The Census Bureau’s Center for Economic Studies links state data on college and university graduates with state and federal employment data to create the Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) tool. The data tools show job placement and earnings outcomes across the country for graduates of each of Oregon’s 17 community colleges and seven public universities. See our Fact Sheet for more information about this tool.

• Recent Initiatives
  
• Key Performance Measures
  
• Interactive Data on Students and Outcomes
  
• Statewide Snapshots
  
• Affordability Reports and Progress
• Equity Reports and Progress
  
• Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative
  

• College Scorecard
  
• Complete College America
• Local Workforce Development Boards
• Oregon Employment Department
  
• National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs
  
• National Center for Educational Statistics
  
• National Student Clearinghouse Research Center
• State Higher Education Executive Officers
  
• U.S. Department of Education
  
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education 
  

• Find Information and Contacts by Topic
• Introducing the HECC Office of Research and Data