Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Portland State University is a public national university located in Portland, Oregon. Portland State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Portland State University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $51,902 10 years after enrolling, 9th in Oregon, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Portland State University bachelor students earn 1% less than the national average. Portland State University is ranked 2nd in Oregon.
Portland State University’s median net annual cost of $12,498 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Portland State University sorted by number of graduates - Psychology, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Marketing, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$12,498
Average years to graduate
4.6
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #47
Economic score: 1.24
Finance
Rank: #46
Economic score: 1.71
Biological & Physical Sciences
Rank: #5
Economic score: 3.46
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #100
Economic score: 3.56
Criminal Justice
Rank: #142
Economic score: 3.98
Public Health
Rank: #41
Economic score: 4.15
Biology
Rank: #282
Economic score: 6.07
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #374
Economic score: 10.63
English Language & Lit
Rank: #323
Economic score: 12.32
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #226
Economic score: 14.88
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Portland State University - Social Work, Education, Computer Science, Educ. Administration, Business Administration, Special Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Civil Engineering
Rank: #36
Economic score: 0.34
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #24
Economic score: 0.36
Public Administration
Rank: #73
Economic score: 0.55
Urban/community planning
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.58
Education
Rank: #198
Economic score: 0.64
Public Health
Rank: #63
Economic score: 0.69
Real Estate
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.84
Student Counseling
Rank: #202
Economic score: 1.09
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #201
Economic score: 1.11
Publishing.
Rank: #4
Economic score: 1.46
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 58% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Portland State University is 8% lower than the state average, and 10% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Portland State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 39% of the measured graduating class, 4% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Portland State University graduates within 4.7 years.
Portland State University is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Portland State University’s economic mobility score of 29.1 is calculated by adjusting the 2.18 economic score of lower-income students by the 39% pell grant recipients within the student body. Portland State University’s EMS of 29.1 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Portland State University pays $12,498 a year, $15,524 less than the $28,022 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $12,498
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Portland State University, 70% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $12,498 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 40% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,682. This is 14% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,437
Pell grants
$4,408
State grants
$3,255
Institutional grants
$4,325
Portland State University offers 11 online bachelor programs, all of which are hybrid format. At the master’s level Portland State University offers 8 programs, all of which are hybrid format. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
19
Hybrid programs
19
Percentage of programs online
11%
Portland State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 98% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 6,859 applicants, of which 6,751 were admitted and 1,741 enrolled. Portland State University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
71%
83%
Female
58%
59%
First time
25%
59%
In-state
79%
68%
1st generation
39%
35%
White
51%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
19%
15%
Asian
10%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
15%
12%