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Portland State University

Portland, Oregon · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$9,552What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
53%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
13,182
In-state tuition
$11,679Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$31,074
SAT midpoint
1,125
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$57,906Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$9,552

Better than 85% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

53%

Better than 52% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$57,906

Better than 61% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$20,500

Better than 53% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$21,590

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$9,552

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Portland State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time53%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return76%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$20,500
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$57,906

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Portland State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Engineering$87,25920
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$82,85357
Computer Science$78,669160
Mechanical Engineering$73,07975
Civil Engineering$67,50950
Physics$62,74918
Accounting and Related Services$58,069153
Finance and Financial Management Services$52,859112
Business Administration, Management and Operations$51,358263
Human Resources Management and Services$49,696122
Economics$47,86535
Urban Studies/Affairs$45,87022
Criminal Justice and Corrections$45,401151
Social Work$41,59494
Marketing$41,395192
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$40,23014
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$37,83126
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$37,709164
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other$37,58545
Mathematics$37,42736
Biological and Physical Sciences$37,419133
Public Health$36,762119
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$35,61535
Chemistry$35,39519
Geography and Cartography$35,33014
Design and Applied Arts$35,30495
Political Science and Government$35,17376
Communication and Media Studies$35,14374
Social Sciences, General$35,093275
Anthropology$34,86227
Community Organization and Advocacy$34,02025
Psychology, General$33,179350
Architecture$32,67830
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$32,48157
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$32,44120
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$31,571111
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$31,51263
International Relations and National Security Studies$30,25319
Biology, General$29,468161
Sociology$28,70853
English Language and Literature, General$27,81981
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$27,50017
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$27,02847
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$25,3528
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$25,26210
History$24,61247
Philosophy$24,12417
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$23,253233
Fine and Studio Arts$20,86641
Music$17,63820
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported47
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported29
Visual and Performing Arts, OtherNot reported19
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/TechniciansNot reported18
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported17
Special Education and TeachingNot reported13
Data ScienceNot reported12
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringNot reported10
International/Globalization StudiesNot reported10
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported7
Peace Studies and Conflict ResolutionNot reported6
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported2
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesNot reported1
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing OperationsNot reportedNot reported
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Real EstateNot reportedNot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reportedNot reported
Area StudiesNot reportedNot reported
DanceNot reportedNot reported
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign LanguageNot reportedNot reported

All 72 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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