Portland Is Home to the Largest Astrology School in America

It offers courses in natal astrology, mythical astrology, medical astrology, ethics, and philosophy, and all with a focus on social justice.

Zodiac Horoscope Astrology

J.P. Hawthorne knows referring to the Portland School of Astrology as “the largest astrology school in the country” is slightly misleading.

With about 70 students and over four dozen instructors, the superlative is accurate. But that's compared to only three other astrology schools in the United States.

"It sounds good, which is why we use it," says Hawthorne, the school's founder and director, "but there's not much of a competition."

Even so, the school takes a unique approach to an admittedly niche discipline.

Operating out of a green two-story house in the Hollywood District, it offers courses in natal astrology, mythical astrology, medical astrology, ethics, and philosophy, and all with a focus on social justice.

"Students are flying in every month from around the world because no one else is doing this in their astrology community," Hawthorne says. "No one else is considering how Scorpio for a queer black woman is different than Scorpio for a straight white male."

Annual tuition for the two-year program ranges from $2,700 to $3,300 a year, depending on where students opt to pay on the "self-selected" sliding scale. The astrology program is grade-free, and after 160 hours of instruction, students receive a certificate of completion.

Hawthorne says the majority of graduates don't go into stereotypical astrological fields, such as private consultations and readings.

"To learn astrology doesn't mean you have to work with clients," Hawthorne says. "Maybe about 60 percent of students find a way to complement astrology with what they're already doing in the world."

32 Reasons to love Portland (wesley Lapointe)

1. Because we're creating new neighborhoods…

2. Because we made voting even easier… 

3. Because a doomed building is now a temporary work of art… 

4. Because we're still No. 1 in semi-factual superlatives… 

5. Because you can finally get a beer for less than $10 at Moda Center… 

6. Because our news anchors don't take crap from internet trolls… 

7. Because University of Portland continues to turn out some of the best women's soccer players in the world… 

8. Because we are the champions of cyclocross…

9. … and roller derby… 

10. … and air guitar…

11. Because we're turning wastewater into beer…

12. … and beer into exercise…

13. Because a local punk legend is holding a permanent rummage sale in the basement of a record shop…

14. Because we let you stop and smell the weed…

15. Because we're a world hub for slap-tagging…

16. Because even Texans are impressed by our barbecue… 

17. … and you can get almost any style of pizza here… 

18. … and also, we've perfected the soy curl… 

19. Because we're dedicated to keeping our strippers healthy and limber…

20. Because our gynecologists are building a better speculum…

21. Because our airport keeps getting more awesome…

22. …and so does Movie Madness…

23. Because we're making Halloweens more inclusive…

24. Because the city's most daring developer is growing strawberry fields in the sky…

25. Because we're bringing the pay phone back, minus the "pay" part…

26. Because you can turn on the TV and see your neighbor compete in an eating contest against a bear…

27. Because hardcore foosball players finally have a home…

28. Because we're home to the largest astrology school in the United States… 

29. Because this is the best place in the country to be a witch… 

30. Because we believe no kitty should be left behind…

31. Because the barred owls are taking over…

32. Because the best Trail Blazer in history is playing in front of us… 

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