Your Degree = Career Success

Studying the liberal arts at Lewis & Clark means that your education is grounded in critical thinking, written and verbal communication skills, teamwork, and problem solving. 

You will build relationships with professors and peers, gain practical experience through internships in Portland and beyond, and create connections among ideas and across disciplines. The Career Center and the Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership will support your career success through advising, networking, resources, programming, and more.

  • Top 100 

    Lewis & Clark is in the top 100 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022–23 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” list.

  • Top 

    Lewis & Clark earned a spot on Princeton Review’s 2023 “Best Colleges” list.

  • 4-5-6 

    Lewis & Clark’s 4-5-6 Commitment can help you make the most of your future.

  • 96% 

    Within six months of graduation, 96% of the Lewis & Clark Classes of 2018–2020 were already changing the world through employment (78%), continuing studies (16%), and service work (2%), like the Peace Corps.

  • Value 

    Lewis & Clark is on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022–23 “Best Value Schools” list.

Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You

Lewis & Clark gives you the essential skills you need to succeed in any career. In fact, the top five career competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers align perfectly with the core values of a liberal arts education: critical thinking/problem solving; work ethic; teamwork/collaboration; oral/written communications; and leadership.

  • Lewis & Clark prepared me by helping me with my critical-thinking skills. All of the jobs I have had post graduation were easier and more enjoyable due to this skill. I have always had an innate sense of curiosity, but L&C really helped me hone it.

    William Witmer BA ’20
    Biology | Phoenix, Arizona
    More about William
  • I felt very prepared when I began law school due to the reading and writing intensive courses I took at L&C. My college professors encouraged me to think critically and dig deeper, and those are skills I applied heavily while in law school.

    Kassie Kometani BA ’19
    Environmental Studies
    More about Kassie
  • L&C prepared me for the large amounts of reading and writing I’m doing now in law school.

    Sydney Cross BA ’21
    International Affairs | Mount Shasta, California
    More about Sydney

Alumni Success Stories

Lewis & Clark Students Visit Meta in Seattle

Two Meta employees, who are also Lewis & Clark alumni, welcomed students to Meta’s Seattle office and shared their career stories.

L&C’s First Native Scholar-Artist in Residence to Focus on Shakespeare

Waylon Lenk BA ’08, a Shakespeare scholar and theatre artist, will join the college as its first Native Scholar-Artist in Residence this fall. Lenk will give a talk at New Student Orientation and direct the theatre department’s fall production of Henry IV, Part 1.

West Linn Selects Recent Alum as Youngest-Ever Mayor

In May, West Linn, Oregon, residents resoundingly chose 23-year-old Rory Bialostosky BA ’22 as the city’s youngest-ever mayor. His election as mayor follows a series of “firsts,” including a term as West Linn’s youngest city council member while he was a full-time student at Lewis & Clark.

Building ‘Hygiene Hubs’ for Houseless Residents

Three recent alums have served at Hygiene4All, a Portland-based nonprofit that works to ensure those who are unsheltered have equal access to basic resources like hot showers, trash disposal, and first aid.

L&C Generates Economic Impact for Oregon and for Graduates

Lewis & Clark is one of 12 schools that generated an economic impact of $3.5 billion to the state of Oregon during fiscal year 2020-21. An average bachelor’s degree graduate from the same time period is expected to see annual earnings that are $35,700 higher than those of an Oregon high school graduate.

Hayes Elected New Chair of L&C’s Board of Trustees

Paula Hayes BS ’92, Lewis & Clark’s new board chair, is an entrepreneurial cosmetics chemist and founder and CEO of Hue Noir.