Portland State University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Portland, Oregon
Net price / year
$9,552
after grants & scholarships
lower than 75% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
53%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 62% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$62,060
4 years after graduating
higher than 61% of public 4-year colleges
Portland State University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Portland State University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $11,679 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $31,074 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Portland State University?
- The average cost of attendance is $21,590 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Portland State University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $9,552 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Portland State University?
- About 91% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is Portland State University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Considered if submitted, but not required.
- What is the graduation rate at Portland State University?
- 53% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Portland State University earn?
- The median graduate earns $62,060 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- At $9,552 a year, the average net price is lower than 75% of public 4-year colleges.
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $7,655 a year on average, versus $19,112 for families earning over $110,000.
- The school admits 91% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- About 33% of undergraduates are 25 or older.
Tuition and cost of attendance at Portland State University
Average net price (in-state)
$9,552 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Portland State University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$38,208
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $7,655
- $30–48k $7,752
- $48–75k $8,981
- $75–110k $12,993
- $110k+ $19,112
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $21,590
- Tuition & fees$11,679
- Books & supplies$732
- Room & board$13,728
- Other expenses$2,250
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $11,679
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $31,074
Portland State University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Portland State University
Graduation rate
53%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
75%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$217
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
1.5 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.3×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 4.2%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 53%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $33,117 · median $57,906 · 75th percentile $85,203
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 9,616 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 7%
- Making progress 10%
- Not making progress 15%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 53%
- Deferment 12%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
9,616 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Portland State University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 147 | $113,889 | 1 yr$78,6694 yrs$113,8895 yrs$126,086 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Above the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 64 | $101,905 | 1 yr$82,8534 yrs$101,9055 yrs$104,747 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Above the U.S. median | $23,875 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 129 | $94,223 | 1 yr$73,0794 yrs$94,2235 yrs$88,755 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Above the U.S. median | $23,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $87,488 | 1 yr$62,7494 yrs$87,4885 yrs$84,248 | U.S. median $76,786 U.S. middle half $51.8K–$102.9K · Above the U.S. median | $22,358 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 73 | $86,084 | 1 yr$67,5094 yrs$86,0845 yrs$87,595 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,470 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 149 | $79,727 | 1 yr$52,8594 yrs$79,7275 yrs$80,287 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $16,444 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 222 | $77,226 | 1 yr$58,0694 yrs$77,2265 yrs$74,599 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Above the U.S. median | $23,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $75,765 | 1 yr$40,2304 yrs$75,765 | U.S. median $65,466 U.S. middle half $44.9K–$88.4K · Above the U.S. median | $22,221 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 49 | $75,482 | 1 yr$47,8654 yrs$75,4825 yrs$61,635 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Below the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 414 | $71,621 | 1 yr$51,3584 yrs$71,6215 yrs$76,365 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $19,901 |
Show all 49 programs
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $70,948 | 1 yr$35,3954 yrs$70,9485 yrs$84,800 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $24,000 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 67 | $70,765 | 1 yr$37,5854 yrs$70,7655 yrs$64,305 | U.S. median $69,830 U.S. middle half $47.7K–$96.2K · Above the U.S. median | $18,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 63 | $68,280 | 1 yr$37,4274 yrs$68,2805 yrs$68,456 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Below the U.S. median | $20,834 |
| Human Resources Management and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 190 | $68,274 | 1 yr$49,6964 yrs$68,2745 yrs$73,873 | U.S. median $68,069 U.S. middle half $50.2K–$90.6K · Above the U.S. median | $18,791 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 89 | $63,456 | 1 yr$41,5944 yrs$63,4565 yrs$56,234 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Above the U.S. median | $23,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 46 | $62,349 | 1 yr$32,6784 yrs$62,3495 yrs$59,730 | U.S. median $66,914 U.S. middle half $54.2K–$78.6K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 197 | $61,499 | 1 yr$41,3954 yrs$61,4995 yrs$67,800 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Below the U.S. median | $18,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $59,961 | 1 yr$37,7094 yrs$59,961 | U.S. median $61,296 U.S. middle half $42.8K–$82.3K · Below the U.S. median | $15,844 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 69 | $59,563 | 1 yr$35,6154 yrs$59,5635 yrs$61,116 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $21,480 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 166 | $59,232 | 1 yr$35,1434 yrs$59,2325 yrs$55,465 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Above the U.S. median | $20,499 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 79 | $59,185 | 1 yr$35,1734 yrs$59,1855 yrs$50,807 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $19,083 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $58,961 | 1 yr$31,5124 yrs$58,9615 yrs$47,669 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Above the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 259 | $58,860 | 1 yr$36,7624 yrs$58,8605 yrs$54,207 | U.S. median $58,808 U.S. middle half $42K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 219 | $58,109 | 1 yr$45,4014 yrs$58,1095 yrs$54,626 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $22,630 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $57,932 | 1 yr$37,8314 yrs$57,9325 yrs$58,152 | U.S. median $60,190 U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Below the U.S. median | $21,253 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 122 | $57,438 | 1 yr$31,5714 yrs$57,4385 yrs$57,275 | U.S. median $55,693 U.S. middle half $40.3K–$72.2K · Above the U.S. median | $16,476 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 119 | $57,303 | 1 yr$37,4194 yrs$57,3035 yrs$65,769 | U.S. median $58,891 U.S. middle half $41K–$81.8K · Below the U.S. median | $21,720 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $56,436 | 1 yr$30,2534 yrs$56,4365 yrs$36,229 | U.S. median $66,596 U.S. middle half $46K–$87.8K · Below the U.S. median | $21,666 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 118 | $56,158 | 1 yr$35,3044 yrs$56,1585 yrs$63,970 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $23,100 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 141 | $54,934 | 1 yr$29,4684 yrs$54,9345 yrs$53,504 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,750 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $54,310 | 1 yr$35,3304 yrs$54,3105 yrs$45,964 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Below the U.S. median | $21,771 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 61 | $54,131 | 1 yr$24,6124 yrs$54,1315 yrs$45,602 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Above the U.S. median | $24,423 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 70 | $53,753 | 1 yr$28,7084 yrs$53,7535 yrs$46,213 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $18,376 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 280 | $52,562 | 1 yr$35,0934 yrs$52,5625 yrs$49,355 | U.S. median $53,366 U.S. middle half $36.6K–$72.3K · Below the U.S. median | $21,914 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $51,925 | 4 yrs$51,9255 yrs$38,552 | U.S. median $49,984 U.S. middle half $32.9K–$69.9K · Above the U.S. median | $23,499 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $51,248 | — | U.S. median $47,629 U.S. middle half $28K–$65.3K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy Bachelor's · Graduates: 44 | $51,066 | 1 yr$34,0204 yrs$51,0665 yrs$50,265 | U.S. median $51,936 U.S. middle half $37.3K–$67.5K · Below the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's · Graduates: 226 | $50,949 | 1 yr$23,2534 yrs$50,9495 yrs$43,029 | U.S. median $53,072 U.S. middle half $35.8K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $22,604 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 70 | $50,427 | 1 yr$32,4814 yrs$50,4275 yrs$49,354 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $20,750 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 49 | $50,241 | 1 yr$27,5004 yrs$50,2415 yrs$39,211 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $50,191 | 1 yr$24,1244 yrs$50,1915 yrs$38,776 | U.S. median $54,455 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$78K · Below the U.S. median | $18,822 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 278 | $49,063 | 1 yr$33,1794 yrs$49,0635 yrs$48,227 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $19,655 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $45,692 | 1 yr$25,3524 yrs$45,6925 yrs$42,373 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Above the U.S. median | $29,399 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 130 | $43,342 | 1 yr$27,8194 yrs$43,3425 yrs$47,120 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $19,513 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $41,759 | 1 yr$34,8624 yrs$41,7595 yrs$43,474 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Below the U.S. median | $17,937 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $41,639 | 1 yr$27,0284 yrs$41,6395 yrs$44,469 | U.S. median $43,765 U.S. middle half $26K–$63.4K · Below the U.S. median | $23,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 83 | $40,731 | 1 yr$20,8664 yrs$40,7315 yrs$33,420 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Below the U.S. median | $26,296 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $39,563 | 1 yr$25,2624 yrs$39,563 | U.S. median $51,642 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$74.4K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $34,160 | 1 yr$17,6384 yrs$34,1605 yrs$20,098 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 46.5%
- Black or African American 5.7%
- Hispanic or Latino 23.2%
- Asian 10.1%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.6%
- Two or more races 8.5%
- U.S. nonresident 2.6%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 2.4%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 43.8%
- Women 56.2%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
33%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 13,182
- Part-time students
- 24%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 42%
- Receive federal loans
- 32%
- Students per faculty member
- 17 : 1
- Setting
- City
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Where it ranks
This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in Oregon
In Oregon
National rankings
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Portland State University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Portland State University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $11,679 for in-state students and $31,074 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Portland State University?
The average cost of attendance at Portland State University is $21,590 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $9,552 a year. That is lower than 75% of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Portland State University get?
42% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 32% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $7,655 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $19,112 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Portland State University?
Portland State University admitted about 91% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Portland State University?
53% of first-time, full-time students at Portland State University finish within 150% of normal time. 75% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Portland State University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $62,060 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $41,313.
Is Portland State University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Portland State University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $20,500, about 0.3 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 53% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Portland State University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $20,500, or about $217 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things