Criminal justice
Ranked #34 of 379 for valueCriminal Justice and Corrections · 124 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $58,109
- Ranked-college median: $55,481
- Median debt
- $18,485
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Portland State University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 90.9% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 6,751 of 6,859 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 510–640, SAT Math 490–610, ACT 17–24. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 13,182
Larger than 93% of colleges
National median 1,603
Portland State UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
Check at the source
About Portland State University
Portland State University is located in Portland, OR. It admits 90.9% of applicants, lists out-of-state tuition of $32,565 before aid, and reports a 52.9% graduation rate.
CollegesRef editorial
Is this campus your type?
Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Portland State University sits for you.
Take the fit quizAdmissions
Portland State University admitted 90.9% of 6,859 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants6,859
90.9% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted6,751
23.8% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)1,604
Middle 50% test scores
- SAT Reading & Writing
- 510–640
- 200800
- SAT Math
- 490–610
- 200800
- ACT Composite
- 17–24
- 136
Your chances
Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against Portland State University- SAT, middle 50%
- 1000–1250
- ACT, middle 50%
- 17–24
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$8,337
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- In-state tuition & fees
- $12,315
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $32,565
- Average net price
- $8,337
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 46.3%
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- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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Aid & Loan Plan$14 once
A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
52.9%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
76.1%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$62,447
Former students who received federal aid
Programs at Portland State University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Portland State University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Electrical engineering
Ranked #45 of 184 for valueElectrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 33 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $101,905
- Ranked-college median: $99,787
- Median debt
- $19,250
- Ranked-college median: $20,732
Civil engineering
Ranked #59 of 181 for valueCivil Engineering · 48 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $86,084
- Ranked-college median: $85,627
- Median debt
- $19,400
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Communications
Ranked #67 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 57 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $59,232
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $17,750
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Mechanical engineering
Ranked #72 of 276 for valueMechanical Engineering · 75 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $94,223
- Ranked-college median: $91,366
- Median debt
- $22,416
- Ranked-college median: $20,713
Computer science
Ranked #78 of 466 for valueComputer Science · 127 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $113,889
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $20,955
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Business
Ranked #79 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 223 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $71,621
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $16,866
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Finance
Ranked #85 of 330 for valueFinance and Financial Management Services · 78 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $79,727
- Ranked-college median: $77,916
- Median debt
- $18,300
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Engineering
Ranked #91 of 327 for valueMechanical Engineering · 75 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $94,223
- Ranked-college median: $91,742
- Median debt
- $22,416
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Accounting
Ranked #95 of 408 for valueAccounting and Related Services · 123 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $77,226
- Ranked-college median: $76,108
- Median debt
- $16,668
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Mathematics
Ranked #119 of 208 for valueMathematics · 39 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $68,280
- Ranked-college median: $71,273
- Median debt
- $20,333
- Ranked-college median: $18,563
Economics
Ranked #133 of 243 for valueEconomics · 31 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $75,482
- Ranked-college median: $83,880
- Median debt
- $16,999
- Ranked-college median: $18,500
Marketing
Ranked #157 of 354 for valueMarketing · 164 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $61,499
- Ranked-college median: $67,486
- Median debt
- $15,278
- Ranked-college median: $19,523
Political science
Ranked #191 of 388 for valuePolitical Science and Government · 79 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $59,185
- Ranked-college median: $63,181
- Median debt
- $17,917
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Biology
Ranked #299 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 116 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,934
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $18,833
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Psychology
Ranked #305 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 391 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $49,063
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $19,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
13,182
Academic calendar
Quarter
Carnegie classification
R2 research university
A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with high research activity.
Colleges like Portland State University
University of OregonEugene, OR
Western Oregon UniversityMonmouth, OR
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Portland State UniversityPortland, OR, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Portland State University
Portland, OR, United States
- Public
- R2 research university
Large city
Inside an urbanized area and a principal city.
- City (this campus)
- Suburb
- Town
- Rural
Nearest major cityIn or next to Portland, OR
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Quarter
- Website
- pdx.edu
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Portland State University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Academics
Research university
Doctoral university with high or very high research activity.
Carnegie classification: R2 research university
Athletics
NCAA Division I · The largest programs and athletic scholarships; big-time game days.
- D-INCAA Division I (this college)
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
Tagged by CollegesRef editors as a big-time athletics school.
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $8,337 a year after aid
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Portland State University and University of Oregon, side by side.
Compare with University of OregonFrequently asked questions
What is the Portland State University acceptance rate for 2026?
Portland State University admitted 90.9% of 6,859 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Portland State University tuition?
In-state tuition at Portland State University is $12,315 and out-of-state tuition is $32,565 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $8,337 a year.
What is the average net price at Portland State University?
The average net price at Portland State University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $8,337 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Portland State University?
52.9% of first-time, full-time students at Portland State University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Portland State University?
The closest matches are University of Oregon, WOU, and Oregon State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
