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Portland State University

Portland State University

Portland, OR · City · 13,182 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$9,552
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
53%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$57,906
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
91%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
About

Portland State University is an innovative public research institution seamlessly integrated into downtown Portland, renowned for its deep commitment to sustainability and civic engagement under its guiding motto, "Let Knowledge Serve the City." The university boasts particularly strong programs in urban planning and public affairs, business, engineering, and environmental studies, consistently emphasizing hands-on learning through community partnerships. Student life is set against the tree-lined South Park Blocks, fostering an independent, socially conscious, and diverse campus culture that serves a large population of transfer, commuter, and non-traditional students. PSU's most distinctive feature is its role as a "living laboratory," where the surrounding metropolis functions as an extended classroom with direct access to local transit, cultural hubs, and regional employers.

Wikipedia:Portland State University (PSU) is a public research university in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans. It evolved into a four-year college over the next 20 years and was granted university status in 1969. It is one of two public universities in Oregon that are in a large city. It is governed by a board of trustees. PSU is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".

Location
Portland, OR, 97201 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
PDX · Portland
7 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$11,679$31,074
Housing & food (on campus)$13,728$13,728
Books & supplies$732$732
Cost of attendance$21,590$66,108
Average net price$9,552Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$31,074
In-state: $11,679
Housing & food (on campus)$13,728
Books & supplies$732
Cost of attendance$66,108
In-state: $21,590
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $9,552
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.pdx.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state
Tuition$36,249
Books & supplies$900
Personal expenses$3,078
Transportation$3,348
Total published by the school$66,108
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$7,655
$30–48k
$7,752
$48–75k
$8,981
$75–110k
$12,993
$110k+
$19,112
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
53%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
34%
Back for yr 2
76%
Transferred
24%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
55% graduated · 26% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 17% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$46,937
10 yrs after entry$57,906
Debt
Median at graduation$20,500
Monthly payment$217
Middle 50% owe$7k–$27.2k
90th percentile$37,500
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
91%
Test policy
Test optional
Checked Sep 2026
ACT midpoint
21

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Essay prompts

If Portland State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 44%Women 56%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
17 : 1
Pell grant
42%
First-gen
39%
Family income
$25,986
Independent
49%
Veterans
1%
Age at entry
25.0
Part-time
24%
Race & ethnicity
White
47%
Hispanic
23%
Black
6%
Asian
10%
Two or more
8%
Non-resident
3%
NH/PI
1%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FCS · EADA 2024-25
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field (Indoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field (Outdoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$46,937
After 10 yrs
$57,906
Psychology, General350
Social Sciences, General275
Business Administration, Management and Operations263
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities233
Marketing192
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General164
Biology, General161
Computer Science160
Accounting and Related Services153
Criminal Justice and Corrections151
Biological and Physical Sciences133
Human Resources Management and Services122
Public Health119
Finance and Financial Management Services112
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other111
Design and Applied Arts95
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$123M
Full-time faculty
57%
Faculty salary
$11,893/mo
Teaching spend
$13,280
per student
Federal loans
32%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$52M research spending · 92 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

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