College & Career Fairs

Attending a college or career fair can be a valuable experience for high school students exploring their post-high options. A college or career fair is designed to help students find the best fit for them. At a college or career fair, students will have the opportunity to:

Discover new schools and career options
Expose students to schools or career paths they might not have otherwise considered
Learn about majors and programs that align with their interests and career goals
Learn about programs and other resources
Get information from a variety of stakeholders
Learn about admissions requirements, campus life, and financial aid
Make professional connections
Network with peers, college representatives, human resources professionals and employment specialists
Practice talking to admission counselors, college staff, and employers
Collect email contacts

NACAC National College Fair Schedule 2025

Come to NACAC's National College Fair at Oregon Convention Center in Portland!

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) holds national college fairs around the entire U.S., and they're coming to the Oregon Convention Center in Portland in October!

At NACAC's college fairs, hundreds of college admission counselors from all over the country will be available to answer questions from students, parents, and teaching/counseling staff. The Sunday session is geared more for students and parents/guardians. Monday's session is attended by high school students and counselors throughout our region.

NACAC National College Fair Portland | Oregon Convention Center | 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd | Portland

Session 1: NACAC NCF Portland | Sunday, October 12th, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Session 2: NACAC NCF Portland | Monday, October 13th, 2025 | 9:00 AM -12:00 PM

REGISTER for the Portland College Fair here. You can PRINT your barcode to easily connect with the college representatives you want to meet.

Check out the list of participating institutions (colleges & universities) NCF Part Institutions PDX2025

Watch this YouTube VIDEO: NACAC College Fairs-The Student Experience (5:38)

What To Expect Before, During, and After a College Fair

Know before you go...find out what you need to know and do to be prepared for a college fair here.
Review the list of colleges and universities who will be exhibiting at the fair (see spreadsheet below under "Supporting Documents"). Make a plan to visit the schools you want to know more about.
Bring a list of questions so you can remember the most important things you want to address during the fair

Attend a Trades Fair!

We aren't able to take students to these fairs on school-sponsored field trips, but students can register to attend on their own if they have their own transportation and a parent/guardian excuses them from any classes they miss.

Portland Trades Day (Portland Expo Center)

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 | 9:00 AM-12:30 PM

PCC Trades Career Fair (Swan Island Trade Center) - Friday, October 24th, 2025 | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Open to the public between 1 PM-4 PM. 10 AM-12 PM is reserved for high school students, Job Corps, and other special groups. This is a great opportunity for students to connect with local area employers, learn about different businesses, and receive good advice regarding education and next steps to be considered for entry and advanced level positions within their company.

Did you know that most of the companies represented pay or reimburse education expenses for their staff? This means no student loans for those students!

Employers are not expecting resumes from high school students, but if you have one and would like it reviewed, please bring several with you. If you're looking for work, please bring many resumes; there are many participating employers (50+).

NW Youth Careers Expo | Portland Workforce Alliance

RHS usually takes several buses of students (GR 10-12) on a school-sponsored field trip to Oregon Convention Center for NW Youth Careers Expo, the PNW's largest and premier career exploration experience.

At NW Youth Careers Expo, students will have the opportunity to meet with hundreds of employers representing a wide variety of professional and skilled trades careers. More details about this field trip will be released later in the year as more details are confirmed.

NW Youth Careers Expo | Oregon Convention Center (Portland, OR)

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 | 9:30 AM-12:30 PM