Founded

1867; four-year, private college of liberal arts and sciences.

Location

Campus on 137 acres in a wooded, residential area 6 miles from downtown Portland, Oregon (metropolitan area population 2.5 million). Pacific Ocean 80 miles to the west; Mount Hood and the Cascade Range 50 miles to the east.

Climate

Temperate (winter temperatures rarely reach freezing, summer temperatures rarely go above 85 degrees). Average annual precipitation is 37 inches.

Academics

Undergraduate Degree

Bachelor of arts

Academic Calendar

Two 15-week semesters and summer school

Faculty Within the College of Arts and Sciences

156 full-time instructional faculty

53% full-time female faculty

26% faculty of color

0 graduate assistants teaching courses

88% of full-time faculty hold a PhD or highest degree in field

Faculty-Student Ratio

1:11

Class Size

88% of classes have fewer than 30 students; average class size is 19

Preprofessional Preparation

Business (4-2 BA/MBA Program)
Education (4-1 BA/MAT Program with Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling)
Engineering (3-2 Program)
Entrepreneurship Curriculum
Law (3-3 BA/JD Program with Lewis & Clark Law School)
Law (3-1 BA/MSL Program with Lewis & Clark Law School)
Pre-law Advising
Pre-med Curriculum

Additional Offerings

Academic English Studies (ESOL)
Geological Sciences
Overseas and Off-Campus Study
Physical Education
ROTC (Air Force and Army)

Major Distribution, Graduating Class of 2025

38% Social sciences
25% Math and natural sciences
18% Humanities
10% Visual and performing arts
  8% Interdisciplinary programs

These percentages are rounded and therefore may not total 100%

55% of students chose to double-major and/or complete one or more minors

Alumni Association

College of Arts and Sciences students become members of the Alumni Association upon graduation, joining a network of more than 25,000 members worldwide. Membership is automatic, and there is no fee to join. Coordinated by the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, the association promotes on-campus, regional, and virtual events designed to foster lifelong connections between alumni, current students, parents, and the broader Lewis & Clark community.

Supported by regional chapters, the association provides opportunities for career networking, social interaction, and lifelong learning. The annual calendar of events includes Homecoming and Family Weekend, Alumni Weekend and reunions, and various gatherings in major cities across the United States and overseas.

The Alumni Gatehouse serves as the headquarters of the association and features a lounge available to students and alumni for meetings and social activities. The Gatehouse is also the base for the Student Alumni Association, a leadership group dedicated to building meaningful connections between current students and the alumni network.

Board of Alumni Members of the Board of Alumni serve as representatives of the worldwide alumni community. They facilitate the relationship between Lewis & Clark and its graduates to deepen lifelong connections across generations, geographic areas, and affinity groups. Members are nominated by the Lewis & Clark community and elected by the sitting board to serve up to two three-year terms.

International Programs

A Lewis & Clark education pushes students to participate thoughtfully and passionately in a diverse and interdependent world. All students are required to either participate in an approved overseas program or take a course that focuses on the history and culture of another region of the world. In addition, all students must satisfy a world language requirement (proficiency through the 201 level).

Overseas and Off-Campus Study

Overseas and off-campus study forms an integral part of the total educational experience at Lewis & Clark. Through our consistently top-ranked program, our students perform research in dynamic environments, build cultural and linguistic proficiency, and prepare for lives as global leaders. More than half of Lewis & Clark students take advantage of these opportunities, with approximately 275 students participating in one of our more than 35 overseas and off-campus study offerings each year. 

Scheduled Programs, 2026–29*

Language-intensive programs: Cameroon, Chile, China, France, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan

Regional area study programs: Australia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, England, Germany, Georgia, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Spain

Domestic programs: New York City

Summer programs: Australia, South Korea, Japan

*Not all programs are offered every year. For the most up-to-date information on overseas study, visit go.lclark.edu/overseas.

Student Life

Campus Living

Our residence halls are staffed by full-time area directors and a team of trained undergraduate student leaders, who provide opportunities for community building and support students in their personal, professional, and academic goals. To foster connection to the campus community, Lewis & Clark has a four-semester residency requirement. Students can sign up for in-hall engagement opportunities like membership in one of our nine Living-Learning Communities (LLCs). In support of a healthier campus environment, all buildings are smoke- and tobacco-free. Multiple dining plans are available, and our dining service, Bon Appétit, provides a wide variety of cuisines to accommodate a range of dietary restrictions and preferences, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.

Clubs, Interest Groups, and Other Student Organizations

Lewis & Clark features more than 120 student-run clubs and groups, club sports, varsity athletics, music ensembles, and more, including:

• International, cultural, and affinity groups
• Religious and spiritual life organizations
• Academic organizations and student-led symposia
• Social justice and service organizations
• Special-interest groups and club sports
• Student-run media groups including a radio station, biweekly newspaper, and annual academic journals
• A comprehensive arts program of films, speakers, music concerts, theatre, dance performances, and art exhibits
• Numerous ensembles sponsored by the music department and several student-run a cappella groups
• 21 varsity sports (NCAA Division III, member of the Northwest Conference) and several intramural sports
• College Outdoors program, offering more than 70 outdoor expeditions throughout the year
• No fraternities or sororities

Students

Enrollment, Fall 2025

College of Arts and Sciences: 1,989

Visiting/nondegree students: 22
Degree-seeking students: 1,967

States represented: 45 plus Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Guam; and overseas military bases
Non-U.S. countries represented: 69
U.S. students of color: 32%
International students: 6%
Third Culture Kids: 6%

Pell-eligible students: 27%
First-generation students: 19%

Male-identified students: 37%
Female-identified students: 62%
Nonbinary students: 1%*

*Lewis & Clark College collects data on three legal sexes, but does not yet have comprehensive data on gender identity. Preliminary data suggest that between 14% and 19% of undergraduates at Lewis & Clark identify as something other than the male/female binary.

For additional details, visit the Office of Institutional Research.

Also enrolled at Lewis & Clark:

Graduate School of Education and Counseling: 721
School of Law: 627

Costs 2026–27

Tuition and mandatory fees: $71,092
Room (double: $9,578) and board (14-meal flex plan: $7,314): $16,892*

Students should also allow an estimated $3,652 ($4,472 if not living on campus) for books, supplies, personal expenses, and transportation costs.

All students must provide evidence of health insurance that meets the minimum criteria established by the college, or pay for enrollment in the student health insurance program. Visit Comparable Criteria for more information.

*Costs represent standard room/board. Additional costs may apply. Review Charges section for a comprehensive list of costs. 

Financial Aid

Ninety-nine percent of students receive financial assistance through merit-based scholarships, need-based grants, loans, or campus employment. More than $91 million in financial aid is awarded to enrolled students annually.