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Portland State University
Admission at Portland State University is close to open (90.9%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $57,906 median earnings below before the application.
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Portland State University sits in Portland proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $113,889 four years out. 41.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 13,182 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 76.1% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
The rest of this page puts figures to that sketch.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Portland State University received 8,877 applications and admitted 8,070 (90.9%), with 1,580 enrolling.
How Portland State University compares
| Portland State University | Oregon median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90.9% | 88.3% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,679 | $22,220 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $57,906 | $57,671 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Portland State University: $57,906 median at year ten, versus $57,671 across Oregon institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $11,679 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $31,074. For non-residents, Portland State University's $31,074 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 13,182 undergrads, Portland State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
52.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 47% don't — ask a Portland State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Portland State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $113,889 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $101,905 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,223 |
| Physics | $87,488 |
| Civil Engineering | $86,084 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $79,727 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $77,226 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $75,765 |
| Economics | $75,482 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $71,621 |
| Chemistry | $70,948 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $70,765 |
| Mathematics | $68,280 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $68,274 |
| Social Work | $63,456 |
| Architecture | $62,349 |
| Marketing | $61,499 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $59,961 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $59,563 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,232 |
| Political Science and Government | $59,185 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $58,961 |
| Public Health | $58,860 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,109 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $57,932 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $57,438 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $57,303 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $56,436 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $56,158 |
| Biology, General | $54,934 |
| Geography and Cartography | $54,310 |
| History | $54,131 |
| Sociology | $53,753 |
| Social Sciences, General | $52,562 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $51,925 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | $51,248 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $51,066 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $50,949 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $50,427 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $50,241 |
| Philosophy | $50,191 |
| Psychology, General | $49,063 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $45,692 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $43,342 |
| Anthropology | $41,759 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $41,639 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $40,731 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $39,563 |
| Music | $34,160 |
Median earnings for these 49 Portland State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $57,906 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 23 additional Portland State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is Portland State University's acceptance rate?
90.9% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,070 admitted from 8,877 applicants.
How much does Portland State University cost?
In-state tuition is $11,679; out-of-state students pay $31,074. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Portland State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $57,906 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Oregon
- University of Portland — 89.2% admitted
- Pacific University — 89.6% admitted
- University of Oregon — 88.3% admitted
- Oregon Institute of Technology — 95% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.