Oregon's public university system contains seven public, four-year universities. The colleges are administered by a chancellor that is appointed by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education. Western Oregon University, located in Monmouth, Oregon, was established in 1856 and has an enrollment of over 5,000 students. Oregon State University is the third largest school in terms of enrollment with over 20,000 students, and was established in 1868. The University of Oregon was founded in 1876 and has an enrollment of over 21,00 individuals. Southern Oregon University has a substantially smaller enrollment at slightly over 5,000 students and was formed in 1926. In 1929, Eastern Oregon, with enrollment at over 3,500, was established. Portland State University has the largest enrollment at over 26,000 students, and was founded in 1946. The Oregon Institute of Technology was founded a year later, and has an annual enrollment of over 3,500 students.
Private universities in the State of Oregon are not overseen by the state. Instead, they are operated by private, non-government affiliated organizations. Much like public schools, private schools provide four-year degrees for undergraduate and graduate students. There are dozens of private colleges in Oregon; each vary in enrollment and programs offered. The list of private universities are: Cascade College, Concordia University, Eugene Bible College, George Fox University, Heald College, Lewis and Clark College, Linfield College, Marylhurst University, Mt. Angel Seminary, National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Northwest Christian College, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Oregon Graduate Institute School of Science and Engineering, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Pacific University, Pioneer Pacific College, Process Work Institute, Reed College, University of Portland, Walla Walla College School of Nursing, Warner Pacific College, Western Seminary, Western States Chiropractic College and Willamette University.
Oregon's State Board of Education and the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development oversees the 17 community colleges within the state. The community colleges are located in Portland, Eugene and Salem, among other cities. Each of these colleges provide two-year associate degrees. Oregon's community colleges are: Blue Mountain Community College, Central Oregon Community College, Chemeketa Community College, Clackamas Community College, Clatsop Community College, Columbia Gorge Community College, Klamath Community College, Lane Community College, Linn-Benton Community College, Mount Hood Community College, Oregon Coast Community College, Portland Community College, Rogue Community College, Southwestern Oregon Community College, Tillamook Bay Community College, Treasure Valley Community College, and Umpqua Community College.
Oregon's public university system is funded by the state government and includes resources, especially at the larger colleges, that community colleges and some private colleges can't compete with. Community college attendees benefit from a lower tuition, convenient location in urban and neighborhood areas, and lighter and faster two-year associate degree programs. Most private universities feature a specialized curriculum that caters to a student's prospective career. The Western States Chiropractic College, for example, provides programs with a focus primarily on physical training.