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Portland, OR Career Education Programs: Find Accredited Schools Online

Published: November, 2010

Portland, the largest city in Oregon, is the third largest city in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle and Vancouver. Portland has 556,370 residents in the city limits, with a greater metropolitan area population of 2 million. Portland has a number of nicknames, from "Rose City" for the number of rose gardens, to "Bridgetown," for all the bridges crossing the Willamette and Columbia Rivers that flow through the city. Another nickname, "Puddletown," plays on the weather; Portland is known for its heavy yearly rainfall and lush green climate.

Portland is known as a well-planned city, in part because of an urban growth boundary put in place in 1979. This boundary has limited urban sprawl, and Portland remains compact and negotiable. Downtown streets are pedestrian-friendly, easy to navigate and clean. Housing costs are somewhat high in Portland, OR, especially with its middle-class per capita income of $33,875, but housing prices remain lower than those in California.

During WWII, Portland helped to produce a number of ships out of its many shipyards, but nowadays it is known as a destination for art, counterculture and beer. Within the city limits of Portland alone, 33 microbreweries offer beer for tasting and purchase.

Portland is also known as the "Silicon Forest" (similar to the "Silicon Valley") due to the number of high tech companies located in the metro area. The tech industry, with the help of many dot-com expatriates, is thriving in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the larger high tech companies with locations in Portland include:
  • Intel
  • Sun Microsystems
  • IBM
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • Tektronix
  • WebMD

Sources:

Schools in Portland, Oregon: Degrees, Diplomas, & More

Sanford-Brown College

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Get the skills you need in Tech, Business, or Healthcare in as little as 9 months from Sanford-Brown College.

Campus Locations:
  • Portland
Programs:
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Billing and Coding
Performance Training Institute

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Get started on your career at Performance Training Institute.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Online Diploma in Medical Office and Administration with Billing and Coding
Carrington College

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Ready for a rewarding career in healthcare? Carrington College™ can help.

Campus Locations:
  • Portland
Programs:
  • Nursing Bridge Program
  • Medical Assisting
Everest College

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Leave that dead-end job behind with training from Everest College.

Campus Locations:
  • Vancouver
Programs:
  • Diploma - Legal Administrative Assistant
  • Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal
Pioneer Pacific College

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Great careers start with an education at Pioneer Pacific College.

Campus Locations:
  • Wilsonville
  • Clackamas
Programs:
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Oregon Culinary Institute

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Prepare for a career in the culinary arts in as little as 40 weeks.

Campus Locations:
  • Portland
Programs:
  • Associate in Restaurant Management
  • Diploma in Resturant Management
The Art Institutes

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The Art Institutes system of schools offers a range of master's, bachelor's, and associate's degree programs, as well as diploma and certificate programs specializing in the creative and applied arts. We also offer a variety of online, evening, and weekend learning options, so there's an education solution to fit your schedule. And our professional-grade technology can give you the practical skills to match your ideas—helping you transform your creative energy into a fulfilling career.

Campus Locations:
  • Portland
Programs:
  • Digital Film & Video (BFA)
  • Graphic Design (AA)
ITT Technical Institute

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Are you interested in pursuing a high-tech career? Getting an education from ITT Tech is a great place to start!

Campus Locations:
  • Portland
Programs:
  • School of Health Sciences
  • School of Electronics Technology
Marinello Schools of Beauty

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Get started on your beauty career with training from Marinello Schools of Beauty.

Campus Locations:
  • Portland
Programs:
  • Nail Technology
  • Cosmetology
University of Phoenix

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At University of Phoenix, we believe everyone deserves access to higher education.

Campus Locations:
  • Salem
  • Hillsboro
  • Tigard
  • Online
Programs:
  • B.S. in Business/Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship
  • MA in Education/Elementary Teacher Education/Middle Level