About Portland Community College
You can join over 19,000 students in a collaborative culture of inclusion at Portland Community College. With hundreds of online courses leading to certificates and associate degrees, PCC makes your education accessible and effective with such benefits as:
- Flexible scheduling to fit your busy lifestyle
- User-friendly platform to keep you organized and on track
- Academic support—tutoring, advising, and student technology help desk
- Engaging discussion forums to connect with peers
This comprehensive community college, a two-year public institution, promotes sustainability as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion. PCC provides a quality education with flexibility, convenience, and choice as the top priorities to support your success.
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Accreditation & Licensing
Portland Community College is accredited by:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Type:
2-year, PublicHighest Level Offered:
Postsecondary award, certificate or diploma of at least two but less than four academic yearsReligious Affiliation:
Not applicableGraduate Enrollment:
Not applicableFully Online Graduate Students:
Not applicableMedian Debt After Graduation (4-Year Degree):
$12,999Average Undergraduates Receiving Aid:
42%Per Undergraduate Average Aid Award:
$6,433Credit for Military Training:
YesPortland Community College can be a smart path to finish a degree, especially for students who plan to transfer. The four-term calendar can help you keep steady progress when your class sequence stays on track.
Your timeline depends on getting the classes you need each term. Some classes fill fast or get canceled, which can force schedule changes. Transfer timing can also take longer when quarter credits do not line up cleanly with semester schools.
Cost is a clear strength at PCC. Tuition is often affordable, and some students get employer tuition help. The value is strongest when your term plan, credits, and transfer goals stay aligned.
At Portland Community College, many students find real day-to-day support. Professors and staff are often kind, approachable, and ready to help with class needs and routine questions.
Advising can feel uneven during staff changes. Some students report delays when one advisor hands work to another. Steps like planning classes, registration, and transfer forms can slow down in those moments.
Even so, support is there across the college. Students tend to do best when each step has clear ownership and steady follow-through.
PCC offers online, remote, and hybrid classes. That gives more schedule options for work and life. The format can vary a lot by section.
Some online classes feel less interactive. A detailed class example described prerecorded lessons and no live lectures. Teaching and grading standards can also differ by instructor. Pace planning matters because classes can fill fast, and some sections get cut.
Portland Community College can offer a very strong class experience, especially with the right professor. Many instructors are caring, engaged, and clear in how they teach. Some students feel the teaching quality matches what they have seen at four-year schools. That classroom strength is a key reason many students choose PCC.
At the same time, class quality can vary by section and instructor. Some classes use prerecorded lessons instead of live lectures. Grading style can also differ from one class to another. PCC offers many course formats, including online, remote, and hybrid, so your section can shape your pace, support, and daily learning experience.
Portland Community College has a positive lean overall. Professors are a clear strength. Many classes feel caring and practical. Some teaching is rated at university level.
Consistency is the main issue. Advising handoffs can break progress. Classes also fill quickly. Some sections get cut.
That can delay term-by-term plans. PCC offers online, remote, and hybrid access. Format quality varies by section. One online pattern was prerecorded lessons with no live lectures.
Cost value is often strong, including transfer routes. But quarter-to-semester credit mismatch can add extra classes and time.
Portland Community College has a positive lean overall. Professors are a clear strength. Many classes feel caring and practical. Some teaching is rated at university level.
Consistency is the main issue. Advising handoffs can break progress. Classes also fill quickly. Some sections get cut.
That can delay term-by-term plans. PCC offers online, remote, and hybrid access. Format quality varies by section. One online pattern was prerecorded lessons with no live lectures.
Cost value is often strong, including transfer routes. But quarter-to-semester credit mismatch can add extra classes and time.
Online Programs offered by Portland Community College
All Programs
Business
Computer Science & IT
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
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Frequently Asked Questions About Portland Community College
Is Portland Community College accredited?
Yes. Portland Community College is institutionally accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many online programs does Portland Community College offer?
Portland Community College offers 21 online programs currently listed on GetEducated.
What degree levels does Portland Community College offer?
Portland Community College offers associate-level programs.
How should students contact admissions at Portland Community College?
Ready to connect? Check Admission Details to get admissions, tuition, and timeline details directly from the school.
Is Portland Community College expensive, and what are the tuition costs?
Roughly speaking, Portland Community College falls into GetEducated’s $ tuition tier, which points to a lower tuition range.
How quickly can I enroll at Portland Community College?
Enrollment at any school can be a quick process; if all required admission requirements are met. This is where students can get hung up and slow down the process by taking too long to gather required documentation.
What should transfer students ask Portland Community College first?
The first thing you must do is order your transcripts from any previous school you attended and have them provided to the new school immediately with the hopes of receiving an unofficial transfer credit evaluation quickly. In an ideal world, students would have an official transfer credit evaluation done prior to committing to enrollment at any school; however with the vast majority of schools, official transfer credit evaluations happen after you are already enrolled, typically in the first semester.
Is Portland Community College military friendly?
Portland Community College does not show Yellow Ribbon support. If military benefits matter for your plan, check current military options before you apply.
How can students request information from Portland Community College through GetEducated?
Comparing schools right now? Request Information to get admissions, tuition, and start-date details sent directly to you.
What documents are most commonly required for Portland Community College applications?
Most listed programs ask for Official High School Transcript/GED Score and Official College Transcript(s). Getting these ready early can keep the application process moving.
Does Portland Community College accept life experience credit?
Portland Community College does not show a school-wide life experience credit policy. Check Transfer Options to confirm transfer-credit options for your specific program.
Are Portland Community College programs fully online or mixed?
Portland Community College programs are primarily listed as 100% Online, which can help students screen for schedule fit before applying.
What kinds of online programs does Portland Community College offer?
Portland Community College has online program options in areas such as Computer Science & IT, Business, Art & Liberal Arts, and Criminal Justice, Safety & Law; start with the field that best matches your career goal, then compare cost, format, and admissions requirements. Compare Programs to get program, admissions, and cost details before applying.
Do any Portland Community College programs have specialized accreditation?
Program-specific accreditors include Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
Are any admission tests required for Portland Community College programs?
One recurring admissions-test item is Placement Test. Students should confirm whether it applies to their specific program.
Do in-state and out-of-state tuition totals differ at Portland Community College?
Some programs show different in-state and out-of-state tuition totals, so check your specific program cost.
Do any Portland Community College programs have state authorization limitations?
State authorization restrictions are not prominent across available programs, but students should still confirm eligibility for their state. Check State Eligibility before applying to confirm whether your program is available where you live.
How often can students start at Portland Community College?
Start times per year typically range from 3-6 for most schools. For Portland Community College, students should confirm the next available start date for their specific program before applying.
How should working adults compare Portland Community College programs?
Working adults should compare program format, pacing, total cost, and application requirements before choosing a path.
What should students compare before choosing a Portland Community College program?
Students should compare accreditation fit, program format, application requirements, total cost, and whether the timeline works with their schedule.
Featured Ranking Reports
Portland Community College is featured in 6 of our ranking reports!
GetEducated continually compiles custom ranking reports to give you a complete snapshot of schools, degrees, tuition, and a detailed report on thousands of job categories throughout the entire education industry.
We provide these comprehensive ranking reports to you, for free. Click on any report below to learn more about how we ranked this school.
Geographic and Educational Overview
Portland Community College is located in Oregon
Oregon at a Glance:
Top Majors in Oregon:
Top Incentives in Oregon:
- Oregon Opportunity Grant: Up to $3,600 annually
- Oregon Promise: Covers most community college tuition
- OSAC Scholarships: Varies by program
Top Career Pathways in Oregon:
- Entry Level: Software Engineer ($75,000)
- Mid Level: Senior Developer ($115,000)
- Senior Level: Technical Director ($155,000+)
- Required Education: BS Computer Science
- Certifications: AWS, Azure
- Entry Level: Environmental Specialist ($55,000)
- Mid Level: Sustainability Manager ($85,000)
- Senior Level: Environmental Director ($130,000+)
- Required Education: BS Environmental Science
- Certifications: LEED, PMP
- Entry Level: Energy Coordinator ($60,000)
- Mid Level: Project Manager ($95,000)
- Senior Level: Energy Director ($140,000+)
- Required Education: BS Engineering
- Certifications: PE, PMP, LEED