What Portland State costs
Portland State University charges $11,679 a year in published tuition and fees for Oregon residents, about $5,840 a semester, and $31,074 a year for students from other states, about $15,537 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $21,590 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $16,281 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Portland State University takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so students from other western states may pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. See the full WUE list →
Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
Getting into Portland State
For fall 2024, Portland State University received 9,077 applications and admitted 8,248 students, and 1,502 enrolled as first-years.
What Portland State students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at Portland State University (class of 2024, first majors only):
| Major | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Psychology | 389 |
| Social Sciences | 223 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences / Liberal Studies | 174 |
| Marketing / Marketing Management | 158 |
| Computer Science | 127 |
| Criminal Justice / Safety Studies | 123 |
| Accounting | 119 |
| Biology / Biological Sciences | 115 |
Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.
Colleges near Portland State
Other colleges within about an hour, by straight-line distance:
- Reed College, Portland, Oregon: about 4 miles away
- Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon: about 4 miles away
- University of Portland, Portland, Oregon: about 5 miles away
- George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon: about 20 miles away
- Willamette University, Salem, Oregon: about 43 miles away
Colleges like Portland State
Smaller public universities with the same campus setting (big city), closest in size and nearest in region:
- California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, California: 8,577 undergraduates
- University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida: 13,359 undergraduates
- CUNY New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, New York: 13,580 undergraduates
- University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee: 12,701 undergraduates
- Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana: 13,830 undergraduates
See more colleges like Portland State in the College Filter →
Lists that include Portland State
- Colleges in Oregon: 9 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities: 242 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast: 15 Compared
- Division I Colleges: 353 Compared
- Division I Colleges on the West Coast: 36 Compared
- Big-City Colleges: 219 Compared
- Big-City Colleges on the West Coast: 32 Compared
FAQ
What is Portland State University's acceptance rate? 90.9% for fall 2024: 8,248 of 9,077 applicants were admitted.
How much is tuition at Portland State University? $11,679 a year for in-state students and $31,074 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Is Portland State University part of WUE? Yes. It is on WICHE's September 2026 list of Western Undergraduate Exchange colleges. Requirements vary by college, so check with Portland State University about how to apply and which programs qualify.
How many students go to Portland State University? About 13,200 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is the campus setting at Portland State University? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as a big city.
Sources
- College Navigator: Portland State University (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
- College Scorecard: Portland State University
- Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons
